LA 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 
GRADY  COUNTY 
WAGONER  COUNTY 


1918 


Prepared  by  E.  A.  DUKE 
Rural  School  Supervisor 


Issued  by  R.  H.  WILSON 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 


OKLAHOMA 


GIFT   OF 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 
GRADY  COUNTY 
WAGONER  COUNTY 


1918 


Prepared  by  E.  A.  DUKE 
Rural  School  Supervisor 


Issued  by  R.  H.  WILSON 
State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 


OKLAHOMA 


V 


:• 


R.  H.  WILSON,  su 
E.  N.  COLLETTE,  ASST 


Ctig 


May  15,  1918. 
TO  THE  PUBLIC: 

Agriculture  is  the  principal  industry  in  the  three  counties  re- 
ported in  this  pamphlet.  But  conditions  in  these  typical  counties 
are  not  the  same  because  of  differences  in  crops,  races,  topography 
and  taxable  valuations.  As  a  result,  the  problems  of  school  admin- 
istration are  not  the  same  in  each  county. 

Educational  opportunities  are  not  equalized  in  the  three  coun- 
ties or  in  the  several  districts  of  the  same  county.  The  opportuni- 
ties as  between  counties  and  districts  should  be  and  could  be  equal- 
ized. 

It  frequently  happens  that  one  district  with  few  children  and 
small  taxable  valuation  has  a  well  equipped  school  building,  a  long 
term  of  school  and  a  high  tax  rate,  while  an  adjoining  district  with 
a  large  valuation  and  many  children  maintains  a  short  term  of 
school  in  a  poorly  equipped  building  on  a  low  rate  of  taxation  ;  or 
vice  versa.  Different  school  boards  and  different  school  commu- 
nities have  varying  standards  or  ideals. 

The  towns,  villages  and  centralized  schools  afford  high  school 
training,  while  the  one-teacher  and  two-teacher  schools  cannot  offer 
accredited  high  school  training.  More  than  one  half  of  the  pupils 
cannot  secure  secondary  or  high  school  training  in  their  home  dis- 
tricts as  they  are  organized  at  present. 

The  purpose  of  this  publication  is  to  suggest  a  plan  under 
which  all  children  in  the  state  may  be  provided  with  adequate 
school  facilities.  In  order  to  make  the  plan  easily  understood,  it 
has  been  applied  specifically  to  three  counties.  But  the  publication 
is  issued  as  a  suggestion  to  all  counties  in  the  state. 

Many  of  the  groups  outlined  have  valuations  higher  than  other 
consolidated  and  union  graded  districts  in  the  state  and  could  sup- 
port splendid  centralized  schools. 

The  cities,  towns,  consolidated  and  union  graded  districts 
provide  superior  educational  fac™^"  for  the  children.  Such 


402961 


4  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

schools  can  easily  be  standardized  and  improved.       The  develop- 
ment of  these  schools  in  the  past  has  demonstrated  that  this  is  true. 

Our  city  school  systems  have  made  a  wonderful  growth  during 
the  past  ten  years. 

Educational  opportunity  in  the  country  should  be  equal  to  that 
in  the  city.  There  is  no  valid  reason  why  pupils  living  in  homes 
separated  by  an  arbitrary  school  district  line  should  have  such  un- 
equal educational  opportunities. 

The  child  who  grows  up  in  a  poor  district,  or  in  a  district  where 
the  people  are  niggardly  and  unprogressive,  is  just  as  important 
to  this  state  and  nation  as  is  a  child  who  grows  up  in  a  district 
where  conditions  are  the  reverse.  Living  in  such  a  community,  the 
child  needs  the  protection  of  the  law  more. 

The  only  remedy  for  the  conditions  set  forth  in  this  bulletin  is 
to  follow  the  example  of  a  great  many  other  states  by  making  the 
county  the  unit  of  school  government  in  accordance  with  the  plan 
Avhich  has  been  submitted  to  the  last  two  legislatures  and  which  was 
turned  down  by  them  because  they  said  it  Avas  undemocratic. 

Everyone  says  that  he  wants  to  give  the  country  child  as  good 
an  education  as  the  city  child,  but  this  cannot  be  done  until  you  give 
him  as  good  a  school  and  teacher,  and  these  cannot  be  had  until  you 
give  him  a  school  system  as  well  organized  and  as  well  administered 
The  present  small  school  district  school  system  compares  with  the 
county  unit  system  just  about  like  the  old  fashioned  bull  tongue 
plow  compares  with  the  modern  cultivator.  The  farmer  has  sub- 
stituted riding  cultivators  for  walking  plows,  throughbred  for  scrub 
stock,  the  automobile  for  the  buggy,  the  cream  separator  for  the 
churn,  the  tractor  and  truck  for  the  team,  but  he  has  left  his  lit  th- 
eme-room school  as  it  was  when  his  grandfather  knew  it.  And  we 
have  not  been  able  to  get  better  school  legislation  for  the  rural 
children,  because  legislators  have  been  afraid  of  their  farmer  con- 
stituents. 

B.  H.  WILSON 
State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction 


FOREWORD 


State  Superintendent  R.  H.  Wilson  recently  issued  a  bulletin 
entitled  "Rural,  Centralized,  Graded  and  Model  schools"  in  which 
attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  where  consolidated  districts  are 
organized  without  refrence  to  a  general  county- wide  plan  certain 
little  weak  districts  ultimately  find  themselves  cut  off  in  such  a  way 
that  they  cannot  consolidate.  It  has  been  customary  in  the  past  for 
the  county  superintendents  to  wait  until  the  consolidation  "  spirit 
moves"  in  a  community,  or  group  of  districts,  and  then  to  go  forth 
and  assist  those  districts  to  unite.  As  a  result  of  this  watchful 
waiting  policy,  we  have  in  many  counties  little  districts  that  have 
been  so  hemmed  in  by  consolidations  that  they  are  doomed  to  remain 
little  and  weak  districts. 

School  improvements  should  have  in  view  the  welfare  of  all  the 
pupils  in  the  county  rather  than  the  welfare  of  a  chosen  few.  The 
child  living  in  a  poor  district  is  entitled  to  as  much  consideration  as 
the  child  living  in  a  rich  district.  It  is  not  neighborly,  in  fact  is  rather 
selfish,  for  groups  of  wealthy  districts  to  consolidate  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  it  impossible  for  the  less  prosperous  districts  to  better 
their  condition.  A  county  wide  plan  carefully  mapped  out  and  fol- 
lowed will  prevent  such  injustice  as  has  resulted  from  sporadic  con- 
solidation in  the  past. 

This  School  Survey  Suggestion  is  printed  and  distributed,  there- 
nnv  as  a  suggestion  to  all  county  superintendents  and  people  in  the 
state,  as  well  as  to  the  people  in  Alfalfa,  Grady  and  Wagoner 
( 'ounties.  It  is  not  expected  that  the  suggestions  contained  herein 
will  be  acceptable  to  every  one  concerned,  but  if  they  lead  to  a  better 
general  plan  of  county-wide  reorganization  and  redistricting  in  these 
three  counties,  or  in  other  counties,  the  publication  will  serve  its 
purpose. 

During  the  next  school  year,  each  county  superintendent  in  the 
state  should  make  an  inventory  of  the  equipment  and  needs  of  each 
school  district  at  the  time  the  school  is  visited.  It  is  suggested  that  a 
county  plan  be  worked  out  along  the  lines  suggested  herein.  Each 
superintendent  having  an  intimate  knowledge  of  local  conditions 
should  be  able  to  arrange  a  better  plan  for  his  county  than  any  other 
person  can  arrange  for  it.  The  plan  as  worked  out  should  be  pub- 
lished and  distributed  to  the  people  in  the  county,  either  in  bulletin 
form  or  as  a  series  of  articles  published  in  the  county  papers. 

Future  consolidations  should  conform  to  a  county-wide  plan. 

REASONS  FOR  REPORTING  i  TF1KKK  COUNTIES. 

In  Oklahoma  conditions  vary  to  such  an  extent  that  a  plan 
which  would  be  feasible  in  one  county  would  hardly  prove  successful 


5  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

in  another  section  of  the  state.  School  districts  were  organized  in 
Oklahoma  Territory  prior  to  statehood;  in  Indian  Territory  the 
school  districts  were  organized  after  statehood.  Topographical 
conditions  are  not  the  same  in  all  parts  of  the  state.  The  crops 
raised  have  an  influence  on  school  attendance  and  spirit.  A 
mixture  of  races  has  its  influence  on  the  administration  of  the 
schools.  The  maintenance  of  the  school  is  effected  by  the  amount 
of  non-taxable  land  in  the  district.  The  educational  ideals  of  the 
people,  influenced  as  they  are  by  the  states  from  which  they  camer 
are  not  identical.  The  amount  of  progress  that  has  been  made  in 
organizing  consolidated  and  union  graded  schools  in  the  several 
counties  is  not  the  same.  These  are  some  of  the  reasons  that  led 
to  the  selection  of  three  counties  in  the  state  to  be  used  as  a  basis 
of  this  suggested  plan  of  county-wide  reorganization. 

The  variations  in  the  three  counties  are  briefly  as  follows : 
Alfalfa  County  is  in  the  grain  belt  where  the  crops  do  not  interfere 
with  school  attendance.  The  school  districts  in  this  county  were 
organized  a  short  while  after  the  opening  to  white  settlement  of  the 
Cherokee  Strip  September  16,  1893.  The  county  is  generaly  level 
and  adapted  to  consolidation.  There  are  no  negroes  in  the  county. 
The  population  of  this  county  was  drawn  largely  from  the  northern 
states.  Practically  all  of  the  land  is  taxable.  Three  consolidated 
districts  have  been  organized  in  this  countv.  The  one  teacher  school 
predominates,  there  being  only  two  rural  common  school  districts  in 
the  county  employing  two  teachers.  At  a  rule,  the  school  district 
bonds  issued  for  building  purposes  have  matured  and  been  paid, 
and  the  school  houses  are  about  worn  out.  There  is  one  teacherage 
in  this  county. 

Grady  County  is  located  near  the  central  part  of  the  state  where 
cotton  and  grain  are  the  principal  crops  grown.  The  cotton  crop 
interferes  with  the  school  attendance.  The  western  one-fourth  of 
the  county  was  formerly  a  part  of  Caddo  and  Comanche  Counties, 
Oklahoma  Territory,  and  the  school  districts  in  this  section  were 
organized  prior  to  the  time  Oklahoma  became  a  state, 1907 ;  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  county  was  formerly  included  in  Indian  Territory 
and  the  school  districts  in  this  section  were  not  organized  until 
after  1907. 

The  topography  and  valuation  in  the  several  districts  of  this 
county  are  such  that  all  are  not  adapted  to  consolidation.  The 
population  consists  of  "Whites,  Indians  and  Negroes,  drawn  largely 
from  the  southern  states.  A  great  deal  of  the  land  is  not  taxable 

One  union  graded  district  and  two  consolidated  districts  have 
been  organized  in  this  county.  Thirty-nine  of  the  rural  districts 
have  two-teacher  schools  in  which  from  one  to  two  years  of  high 
school  work  is  offered  .  High  school  instruction  is  provided  for  a 
large  per  cent  of  the  pupils  in  this  county.  Not  more  than  one-half 


FOREWORD  7 

of  the  districts  in  this  county  maintain  one-teacher  schools  and  less 
than  one-fourth  of  the  pupils  in  the  county  attend  one-teacher 
schools.  The  school  district  bonds  being  of  later  issue  than  those  in 
Alfalfa  County  have  not  as  a  rule  matured  and  been  paid  off.  The 
schoolhouses  being  of  more  recent  construction  are  generally  bet- 
ter and  more  modern  than  those  in  older  counties,  but  the  box  car 
type  of  building  predominates  here.  There  are  fourteen  teacher- 
ages  in  the  county. 

Wagoner  County  is  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  Oklahoma  where 
cotton  and  grain  are  the  principal  crops  grown.  As  in  Grady 
County,  cotton  interferes  with  the  school  attendance.  This  county 
was  formerly  included  in  Indian  Territory  and  the  school  districts 
were  not  organized  until  after  1907.  There  is  considerable  rough 
territory  in  this  county.  The  population  consists  of  Whites, 
Indians  and  Negroes  drawn  from  all  sections  of  the  country. 
A  great  deal  of  the  land  is  not  taxable.  No  union  grade  or  con- 
solidated schools  have  been  organized  in  this  county.  Only  three 
of  the  rural  districts  maintain  two-teacher  schools.  The  school 
district  bonds  have  not  yet  matured  and  been  paid.  The  school- 
houses  are  in  a  poor  condition,  the  box  car  type  predominating. 
There  is  one  teacherage  in  this  county. 

Acknowledgment 

Supt.  Chas  C.  Wolfe  of  Alfalfa  County,  Supt.  Moman  H. 
Shepard  of  Grady  County,  and  Supt.  Fern  H.  Sizer  of  Wagoner 
County,  accompanied  me  at  the  time  inspections  of  the  schools  in 
their  respective  counties  were  made.  They  co-operated  with  me 
fully  by  making  it  possible  for  me  to  secure  the  information  upon 
which  this  report  is  based.  Each  of  these  superintendents  is 
striving  hard  to  improve  school  conditions  and  is  entitled  to  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  every  person  living  in  the  county. 

But  in  justice  to  these  superintendents,  I  take  pleasure  in 
stating  that  they  should  not  be  held  responsible  for  the  suggestions 
made  herein.  I  alone  am  responsible  for  them. 

The  illustrations  used  in  this  bulletin  were  furnished  by  the 
respective  counties. 

E.  A.  DUKE,  Rural  School  Supervisor. 


8  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

ALFALFA  COUNTY 

This  county  is  one  of  the  northern  tier  of  counties  almost  equi- 
distant from  the  eastern  and  western  boundaries  of  Oklahoma.  11 
lies  just  south  of  the  Kansas  state  line,  east  of  Woods  County,  west 
of  Grant  County  and  north  of  Major  County.  The  shape  of  the 
county  is  that  of  a  rectangle  thirty-seven  miles  long  from  north  to 
south  and  twenty-four  miles  wide  from  east  to  west.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  28  square  miles  waste  land  in  the  Great  Salt  Plains,  the 
888  square  miles  of  area  comprises  splendid  agricultural  land. 

This  county  was  formerly  a  part  of  Woods  County,  which  was 
one  of  the  counties  organized  from  the  Cherokee  strip  at  the  time  it 
was  opened  for  settlement  and  made  part  of  Oklahoma  Territory. 
Sept.  16,  1893.  The  present  school  districts  were  organized  and 
many  of  the  present  schools  buildings  were  erected  shortly  after  the 
opening. 

Alfalfa  County,  as  a  separate  municipality,  came  into  existance 
at  the  advent. of  statehood,  November  16,  1907. 

The  federal  census  of  1910  credited  the  county  with  18,138 
souls.  The  population  at  this  time  is  probably  greater  than  20,000. 

Only  five  negroes  reside  in  this  county  and  no- Indian  tribes  have 
their  domicile  within  its  bounds.  The  population  is  almost  wholly 
white.  It  is  the  type  of  a  county  where  the  population  is  homoge- 
neous and  where  there  is  no  necessity  for  separate  schools.  To  this 
extent,  the  conditions  there  are  ideal. 

There  are  a  few  sand  hills  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county, 
the  northwestern,  central  and  southern  parts  consist  of  level  prairie, 
with  the  exception  of  a  narrow  strip  about  two  miles  wide  extend- 
ing across  the  county  two  miles  north  of  Goltry  and  Helena.  The 
Salt  Fork  of  the  Arkansas  River  enters  the  county  from  the  west 
just  twelve  miles  south  of  the  Oklahoma-Kansas  line  and  flows 
southeast  to  the  point  where  it  enters  Grant  County  sixteen  and  one- 
half  miles  south  of  the  state  line.  There  are  several  creeks  in  the 
county  but  all  are  bridged  so  they  present  no  obstacles  to  travel. 

The  county  is  traversed  by  four  railroads  The  Atchison 
Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  (Santa  Fe),  the  Chicago  Rock  Island  and 
Pacific  (Rock  Island),  The  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco  (Frisco), 
and  the  Kansas  City,  Mexico  and  Orient  (Orient).  The  following 
1owns  and  villages  are  located  on  these  railroads:  Cherokee,  which 
is  the  county  seat;  Carmen,  Helena,  Jet,  Lambert,  Driftwood. 
Burlington,  Byron,  Ingersoll,  Goltry,  Aline  and  Amorita. 

It  is  strictly  an  agricultural  county.  Grain,  hay  and  livestock 
are  the  products.  There  is  no  cotton  to  interfere  with  school  atten- 
dance. A  large  proportion  of  the  farmers  own  their  farms. 

The  taxable  valuation  of  all  property  in  the  county  is  as  fol- 
lows: 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 

Real    Estate    .  $17,691,178.00 

Personal    3,495,232.00 

Public    Service    3,923,215.00 


Total    $25,109,625.00 

SCHOOL   ORGANIZATION. 

The  county  is  divided  into  93  school  districts.  There  are  285, 
or  more,  school  district  officers.  In  79  of  the  districts,  one-teacher 
schools  are  maintained.  There  are  two  districts  that  employ  two 
teachers  each,  and  twelve  districts  that  employ  three  or  more 
teachers  each.  These  latter  are  consolidated,  village,  and  town 
schools.  No  high  school  work  is  offered  in  81  districts. 

The  enumeration  of  scholastics  in  the  county  January,  1917, 
was  5.383.  The  enrollment  in  the  schools  during  the  year  closing 
June  30,  1917,  was  4,389  and  the  average  daily  attendance  during 
the  same  time  was  3,637.  Of  the  scholastic  enumerated,  2.341 
live  in  consolidated,  village  and  town  districts  where  some  high 
school  work  is  offered  and  3,042  live  in  districts  that  provide  no 
high  school  training  in  the  home  school.  The  enrollment  in  the 
graded  schools  of  consolidated,  village,  and  town  districts  was  2,097 
for  the  year  closing  June  30,  1917,  and  the  average  attendance  was 
1,770.  The  enrollment  in  the  ungraded  rural  schools  for  the  same 
year  was  2,292  and  the  average  attendance  was  1,867. 

The  consolidated,  village  and  town  districts  have  levied  $80,778 
to  provide  schools  during  the  current  year  for  2.341  persons  of 
school  age  and  the  rural  districts  will  pay  $62,140  during  the  same 
time  to  provide  schools  for  3.042  scholastics.  In  other  wrords,  the 
districts  having  graded  schools  have  planned  to  spend  $34.50  for 
each  person  enumerated,  while  the  rural  people  have  planned  to 
spend  $20.42  for  each  person  enumerated  in  the  rural  districts  that 
provide  the  ungraded  schools. 

The  approved  estimates  for  teachers'  salaries  are  as  follows: 
For  the  83  teachers  employed  in  rural  districts,  $41,139;  for  the 
81  teachers  employed  in  the  consolidated,  village  and  town  schools, 
$53.870.  The  average  monthly  salaries  paid  teachers  in  the  county 
as  a  whole  is  $69.10:  the  average  in  the  graded  schools  being  $72.93 
and  in  the  rural  ungraded  schools  $65.24.  District  17  pays  the 
lowest  monthly  salary.  $40.00:  District  46.  Cherokee  pays  the 
highest.  $125.00. 

Fifty-four  of  the  rural  teachers  are  serving  their  first  year  in 
their  present  positions  and  twenty  of  these  had  had  no  previous 
experience  as  teachers  when  their  schools  opened  last  September. 
There  are  no  third  grade  teachers  employed  in  the  graded  schools. 

Stella  Friends  Academy,  located  in  a  rural  community  five 
miles  northeast  of  Cherokee,  is  the  only  private  school  of  note  in 


10 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


WASTED     HORSEPOWER      SCHOOL       BUILDING      AND      MEANS 
TRANSPORTATION.     DISTRICT     NO.    94. 


OF 


the  county.       This  academy  furnishes  high  school  facilities  for 
rural  pupils  in  that  section  of  the  county. 

Under  the  present  transfer  law,  pupils  transferred  from  one 
district  to  another  have  their  tuition  paid  by  the  district  in  which 
they  reside.  The  provisions  of  this  law  were  not  generly  under- 
stood at  the  time  when  transfers  were  made  during  June,  1917,  and, 
as  a  result  many  pupils  in  the  high  school  are  forced  to  pay  their 


CONSERVATION  OP  HORSEPOWER— TRANSPORTATION  AT  LAMBERT. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


11 


own  tuition  this  year.  Next  year  these  pupil,  will  no  doubt 
apply  for  transfers  in  time  to  have  their  districts  pay  this  tuition 
for  them.  During  this  school  year  the  rural  districts  are  paying 
$3,993  as  transfer  fees,  or  tuition,  for  pupils  who  were  regularly 
transferred  to  districts  maintaining  graded  schools.  The  enroll- 
ment in  the  high  school  grades  of  seven  grade  schools  reported 
was  480  and  218  of  these  pupils  were  residents  of  other  districts. 

The  districts  maintaining  graded  schools  levy  a  higher  millage 
tax,  upon  the  average,  than  do  the  rural  districts.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  in  this  connection  that  the  consolidated  districts  maintain 
their  schools  on  a  lower  rate  of  taxation  than  that  levied  in  the 


THE     NEW     WAY— TRANSPORTATION     AT    DRIFTWOOD. 

good  town  and  village  schools.     The  rates  levied  in  districts  employ- 
ing three  teachers  or  more  are  as  follows : 
No.  District            Town                            No.  Teachers  Rate  of  Levy 

1  Consolidated,   Burlington  4  4.     mills. 

2  Consolidated,  Driftwood  5  7.     mills. 

3  Consolidated,  Lambert  8  6.5  mills. 

14     District,            Arnorita  3  4.8  mills. 

23     District,            Byron    4  5.     mills. 

40     District,            Ingersoll    4  8.     mills. 

46     District,            Cherokee   18  9.2  mills. 

65     District,            Jet    7  12.4  mills. 

77     District,            Carmen    13  7.     mills. 

86     District,            Goltry,  5  10.     mills. 

89     District,             Helena  8  15.     mills. 

97     District,           Aline  5  15.     mills. 


12  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

The  three  consolidated  districts  furnish  transportation  as 
required  by  law  and  maintain  their  graded  schools  on  a  tax  rate  low- 
er than  that  levied  by  the  average  village  and  town  district.  Any  of 
the  rural  groups  outlined  in  this  survey-suggestion  can  do  the 
same.  The  farmer  can  provide  a  good  graded  school  for  his 
children  at  a  lower  rate  of  taxation  than  the  village  and  town 
districts  must  levy  to  support  their  schools. 

During  the  month  of  November,  1917,  accompanied  by  the 
County  Superintendent  Charles  C.  Wolfe,  I  inspected  58  schools  in 
the  county,  including  47  one-teacher  schools,  2  two-teacher  schools, 
3  consolidated  and  6  town  and  village  schools  employing  three  or 
more  teachers.  In  addition  to  the  personal  inspection  of  schools 
in  all  sections  of  the  county,  reports  were  received  from  all  districts 
not  visited  except  one  village  school,  Ingersoll,  and  5  one-teacher 
schools  in  districts  48,  82,  91,  95  and  99.  The  teachers  in  these 
districts  either  did  not  receive  the  report  blanks  sent  them  by  mail 
or  they  ignored  the  request  for  information.  Several  of  the  reports 
were  incomplete  as  to  certain  items. 

In  10  graded  town,  village  and  consolidated  schools,  and  in  70 
one-teacher  rural  schools  the  enrollment  in  the  first  eight  grades 
was  as  follows : 

Grade  1st.  2nd.  3rd.  4th.  5th.  6th.  7th.  8th.  Total 
Town  292  161  158  165  178  159  142  198  3453 
Rural  343  171  186  218  183  185  162  176  1623 


Total       635      332      344      383      361      344      304      374      3076 

The  rural  enrollment  is  greater  than  the  town  enrollment  in  all 
grades  except  the  eighth.  This  is  due  to  several  causes :  1st.  A 
large  number  of  rural  children  go  to  the  town  school  to  take  the 
eight  grade  work:  2nd.  There  being  no  high  school  in  the  district  to 
act  as  nn  incentive,  pupils  do  not  finish  course;  3rd,  Rural  children 
outgrow  the  school  before  they  complete  the  course  of  study;  4th. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  little  one  room  school  to  hold  their  interest. 

,The  high  school  enrollment  in  7  town,  village  and  consolidated 
disl  riots  was  485,  of  which  number  218  were  pupils  who  live  in  rural 
districts  offering  no  high  school  facilities  and  who  were  paying 
their  own  Inition  or  who  had  been  transferred  and  were  having  their 
tuition  paid  for  them  by  their  districts. 

There  are  93  grades  of  one  pupil  each,  101  grades  having  only 
two  pupils  each,  21  grades  having  eight  or  more  pupils  each,  and 
only  3  grades  having  ten  or  more  pupils  enrolled  in  the  rural  schools 
of  '.he  county.  The  average  number  of  daily  recitations  in  the  one- 
teacher  schools  is  30,  the  highest  number  is  37.  Small  classes, 
absence  of  rivalry  and  short  recitation  periods  lead  to  an  absence  of 
school  spirit  and  enthusiasm  necessary  to  hold  the  interest  of  the 
adolescent  child. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  13 

28  of  70  one-teacher  schools  have  8  grades  enrolled. 
17  of  70  one-teacher  schools  have  7  grades  enrolled. 
14  of  70  one-teacher  schools  have  6  grades  enrolled. 

6  of  70  one-teacher  schools  have  5  grades  enrolled. 

4  of  70  one-teacher  schools  have  4  grades  enrolled. 

1  of  70  one-teacher  schools  has  a  teacher,  but  no  pupils  en- 
rolled. 

SUMMARY. 

The  following  general  information  was  compiled  from  obser- 
vation notes  and  reports  made  at  the  time  the  schools  were  visited : 

1.  Fourteen  districts  have  no  water  supply  on  the  grounds. 
Several  have  wells  and  cisterns  with  Avood  covers  in  such  a  state  of 
decay  that  the  water  drains  back  into  the  well.      A  large  number  of 
wells   and   cisterns   are   provided   with   concrete    covers.        In   the 
interest  of  health,  concrete  covers  should  be  provided  for  all  Veils 
and  cisterns. 

2.  Twenty-three  of  the  school  sites  are  fenced  and  trees  have 
been  planted  on  eighteen. 

3.  In  only  four  districts  are  the  outside  privies  provided  with 
screens  and  in  forty-six  of'  the  districts  these  privies  have  pits,  but 
in  no  district  inspected  had  the   pits  been  treated  to  make  them 
odorless  or  the  privies  made  fly  tight.       Each  school  district  board 
should  take  this  matter  up  with  the  county  superintendent,  who  will 
instruct  them  how  to  take  care  of  these  outbuildings. 

4.  Practically  all  of  the  schools  have  some  form  of  playground 
equipment. 

5.  There  are  77  one-room  school  houses  in  the  countv.  4  two- 
room  houses,  and  13  houses  having  three  or  more  rooms.      In  two  of 
the  4  districts    having    two-room    buildings    only    one    teacher    is 
employed.     There  is  one  teacherage  in  the  county. 

6      Only  two  of  the  77  one-room  schools  are  lighted  properly. 
The  building  west  of  Cherokee  in  district  Xo.  45.  is  the  most  modern. 

The  buildings  in  many  districts  will  need  to  be  replaced  or 
repaired  at  an  parly  date.  Directors  should  consult  the  county 
superintendent  before  building  new  houses  or  repairing  the  old  ones. 
Only  eleven  rural  buildings  have  entrance  halls  and  only  ten  have 
cloakrooms,  several  of  them  have  both  entrance  hall  and  cloak- 
rooms. Only  one  building  in  the  county  has  a  cupboard  built  and 
screened  in  for  the  protection  of  the  childrens'  lunches.  There  are 
in  these  schools  many  unused  bookcases  with  doors  broken  off  that 
could  easily  be  converted  into  lunch  cupboards  be  placing  screen 
doors  on  them. 

7.  Five  of  these  schools  have  no  window  shades.       Many  of 
them  liavp  no  sash  curtains  over  thp  lower  window*. 

8.  One  district  has  recently  bought  adjustable  desks.       Rev- 


14  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

eral  have  non-adjustable  desks  too  large  for  a  number  of  the 
pupils  enrolled  and  too  small  for  others.  Double  desks  are  found 
in  about  three-fourths  of  the  districts  and  single  desks  in  the  others. 

9.  Many  of  the  schools  have  insufficient  blackboard  space  and 
in  many  others  the  blackboards  are  so  high  that  they  are  of  not 
much  benefit  to  the  smaller  children. 

10.  Twenty-two  of  the  rural  schools  have  modern  heaters,  the 
others  are  heated  by  stoves  of  the  old  type  that  furnish  no  ventil- 
ation or  uniform  temperature  for  all  parts  of  the  room. 

11.  Eleven  districts  have  sanitary  water  coolers. 

12.  Fifty-five  districts  have  maps,  fifty  have  globes,  forty- 
seven  have  agricultural  charts,  eight  have  reading  charts,  four  have 
physiological  charts,  and  two  have  bird  charts.      In  several  districts 
the  boards  have  purchased  expensive  charts  and  nothing  else  in 
the  way  of  equipment. 

13.  Thirty-five  districts  have  no  library  books,  twenty-two 
districts  have  library  books  that  are  too  far  advanced  for  any  of 
the  pupils  enrolled,  therefore  these  libraries  are  of  no  value  to  the 
school.      Only  fifteen  districts  have  provided  library  t books  for  the 
primary  grades.       Directors  should  permit  the  teachers  to  select 
library  books,  in  order  to  avoid  such  mistakes,  as  have  been  made  in 
the  past.      For  instance,  seven  of  these  districts  had  in  the  library 
nothing  but  expensive  encyclopedias,  three  of  them  having  as  many 
as  three  expensive  sets  each  bought  from  a  persistent  agent  who 
would  not  take  "no"  for  an  answer. 

14.  Eighteen  rural  schools  do  not  own  a  United  States  flag. 
The  flag  was  not  displayed  in  seven  districts  that  own  flags. 

15.  There  are  a  great  many  organs  in  the  schools,  a  few  pianos, 
and  seven  Victorolas.      The  musical  instruments  were  usually  found 
to  be  out  of  tune.      It  is  suggestive  that  Victorolas  or  Grafanolas  be 
purchased  and  a  system  of  exchanging  records  be  devised  under 
which  several  districts  may  buy  a  few  records  each  and  organize  a 
circuit  whereby  each  district  may  have  an  opportunity  during  the 
year  to  use  all  of  the  records  belonging  to  the  several  districts. 

16.  In  two  rural  one-room  schools,  domestic  science  equipment 
has  been  provided.      In  one  such  district  manual  training  equipment 
has  been  provided. 

CONCLUSION. 

It  is  apparent  that  the  rural  schools  of  this  county,  which  is 
more  favorably  situated  and  circumstanced  than  the  majority  of 
the  counties  in  the  state,  do  not  meet  the  needs  of  the  present  day 
There  are  too  many  weak  districts,  too  many  district  officers,  too 
great  a  waste  in  duplication  of  equipment  and  in  bad  judgment 
shown  in  buying  unnecessary  equipment,  while  the  school  actually 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


MAP    OF   ALFALFA     COUNTY    SHOWING    SUGGESTED     GROUPING    OF 

DISTRICTS.      GROUP   FOURTEEN   IS     NOW   CONSOLIDATED 

DISTRICT    NO.    4. 


16  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

suffers  for  the  want  of  a  few  of  the  essentials.  Above  all  there  is 
too  great  a  waste  of  time  both  on  the  part  of  the  teachers  and 
pupils.  The  lack  of  high  school  advantages  close  at  home  cause 
too  many  of  the  pupils  to  drop  out  of  school  before  they  complete 
the  eighth  grade  course.  Too  many  of  those  who  .enter  the  town 
high  schools  are  over-age  showing  that  somewrhere  down  in  the  one- 
room  rural  school  they  have  lost  several  years  from  their  school 
lives  because  of  short  terms  and  short  recitation  periods.  The 
suggestions  that  follow  should  be  given  more  than  passing  atten- 
tion. 

CONSOLIDATED  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS. 

No.  1  No  2.  No.  3 

Burlington  Driftwood     Lambert 

Area  (approximate  square  miles)  22!/2  25  40*/> 

Enumeration,  1917  141  151  268 

Enrollment,    1917   133  158  22.0, 

Valuation  of  taxable  property 

1917-18    $836.337.00  $977,517.00  $1,442,073.00 

Gen.  Levy  (mills.)  1917-18 4  7  (5L> 

Total    Est.    approved,    1917-18  5,129.00  9,002.00  10.400.00 

Est.  for  transportation,  1917-18  1,620.00  1,620.00  3,200.00 

Est.  for  other  expenses,  1917-18  3,509.00  7,382.00  7,200.00 

Est.  cost  per  child,  1917-18 38.39  56.97  46.64 

Length  of  term  in  months 99  9 

Cost  per  month  for  each  child 

Enrolled,  1917-18 4.26  6.33  5.18 

Cost   per  mo.    (not   including 

transportation)  1917-18  2.92  5.43  2.98 

Number     of     drivers     employ- 
ed 1917-18  _.  44  8 

Average  monthly     salaries     of 

drivers,  1917-18  45.00  48.75  46.50 

Number  of     teachers     employ- 
ed. 1917  : L  45  s 

Average  monthly  salaries  of 

teachers,  1917-18  72.50  80.20  73.25 

Enrollment  Nov.  1917,  Primary 

Grade  15  15 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  1st  grade  13  11  19 

En  Mm  'nt  Nov.  1917,  2nd  grade  11  10  17 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917.  3rd  grnde  13  8  14 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917, 4th  grade  15  10  18 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  5th  grade  15  8  17 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  6th  grade  6  5  12 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  7th  grade  11  8  12 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


17 


En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  8th  grade  16 

Kn'lnrnt  Nov.  1917,  9th  grade  8 

En '1m 'nt  Nov.  1917,  10th  grade  6 

En '1m 'nt  Nov.  1917,  llth  grade  0 

En'lm'nt  Nov.  1917,  12th  grade  0 

Total  November  15,  1917  127 

Pupils  from  other  districts  9 


7 

12 
13 

8 

123 
9 


26 

25 

19 

5 

6 

190 
7 


rn\s<  UNDATED   DISTRICT   NUMBER   ONE 
(BURLINGTON) 

This  district  has  a  four  room  schoolhouse  located  on  a  block  or 
more  of  land  in  the  town  of  Burlington.  There  are  two  unscreened 
toilets  on  the  schood  site.  These  should  be  moved  a  greater  dis- 
tance from  the  water  supply  and  made  sanitary.  The  building  is 
improperly  lighted,  several  of  the  rooms  having  windows  on  three 


CONSOLIDATED   SCHOOL    AT  BURLINGTON. 


>ides.  There  are  no  cloakrooms,  window  shades,  curtains  or  equip- 
ment for  agriculture,  manual  training  and  domestic  science.  The 
building  is  heated  by  furnace  and  cannot  be  ventilated  except  by 
means  of  the  windows.  The  double  desks,  blackboards,  teachers 
desks  and  chairs  are  in  fair  condition.  The  school  needs  more 
dictionaries  and  library  books,  lunch  closets,  water  coolers,  or 
drinking  fountains. 

Two  homemade  wagons,  one  Ford  truck  and.  one  Ford  touring 
car  are  used  to  furnish  transportation  for  the  pupils.  The  Ford 
truck  covers  a  route  six  miles  long,  making  -.the  trip  in  from  forty 

i.'ty  minutes.       Each  driver  in  this  district  is  paid  a  monthly 


18  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

salary  of  $45  .  The  touring  car  makes  two  trips  in  the  forenoon 
and  two  in  the  afternoon. 

Very  little  high  school  work  can  be  done  in  this  district  as  long 
as  only  four  teachers  are  employed,  because  the  enrollment  in  the 
lower  grades  is  so  great  that  at  least  three  teachers  must  be  as- 
signed those  grades.  The  people  of  the  district  are  making  a  great 
mistake  in  running  a  cheap  school. 

Only  fourteen  pupils  were  enrolled  in  the  high  school  on  the 
date  of  my  visit,  November  13,  1917,  and  nine  of  these  were  from 
outside  the  district. 

This  district  should  be  enlarged  and  the  people  should  attempt 
to  provide  a  good  school  for  their  children,  rather  than  a  cheap 
school. 

CONSOLIDATED  DISTRICT  NUMBER  TWO 
(DRIFTWOOD) 

This  district  has  two  school  buildings,  one  with  five  rooms 
and  one  with  one  room,  making  six  rooms  in  all.  Five  teachers  are 
employed  during  the  present  school  year  1917-18.  The  toilets  are 
screened  and  provided  with  pits.  There  are  no  cloakrooms  In  the 
main  building,  but  shields  have  been  provided  for  coats  and  wraps. 
Four  Waterman  Waterbury  heaters  provide  heat  and  ventilation  for 
four  rooms,  while  a  radiator  stove  is  used  in  the  other. 

This  school  has  good  blackboards,  teachers'  desks  and  chairs, 
maps,  globes  and  single  desks.  The  library  has  312  books  for  all 
grades  and  these  are  in  good  condition.  The  school  has  three 
Encyclopedias.  The  school  has  spent  $23  for  subscription  to  cur- 
rent magazines  for  this  school  year. 

Five  teachers  are  employed  in  this  district,  one  being  assigned 


DRIFTWOOD    CONSOLIDATED   SCHOOL. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


19 


to  the  1st,  '2nd  and  3rd  grades,  one  to  the  4th,  5th  and  6th  grades, 
while  three  teachers  teach  the  7th,  8th  and  high  school  grades.  In 
this  way  high  school  work  can  be  done.  The  school  is  accredited 
for  15  units.  The  pupils  in  the  lower  grades  recite  from  one  to  two 
bours  each  day,  while  pupils  in  the  7th  and  8th  grades  have  abou/ 
three  hours  of  actual  recitation  work  each  day.  The  high  school 
students  have  recitation  periods  of  45  minutes  each.  The  enroll- 
ment in  high  school  November  13,  1917  was  forty,  or  one  third  of  the 
entire  enrollment  in  the  school,  eight  of  whom  were  transferred  to 
this  school  from  adjoining  districts. 

A  Ford  truck,  costing  $710  complete,  is  used  to  haul  about 
twenty-five  children  over  a  route  10^  miles  long,making  the  trip 
in  an  average  of  fifty  minutes.  Two  homemade  wagons  and  one 
wagon  purchased  from  the  manufacturers  of  school  vans  furnish 
conveyance  for  children  on  the  other  three  routes. 

The  people  of  this  district  are  trying  to  build  their  school  up  to 
a  high  standard  and  they  will  be  able  to  do  so. 

CONSOLIDATED  DISTRICT  NUMBER  THREE 
(LAMBERT) 

This  is  the  largest  consolidated  school  in  Alfalfa  County,  in 
area,  school  population,  taxable  valuation  and  number  of  teachers 
employed.  It  has  a  splendid  school  building,  having  eleven  rooms 
and  ranking  among  the  best  of  the  school  buildings  in  the  county. 


LAMBERT  CONSOLIDATED  SCHOOL. 


20  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

About  three-fourths  of  the  pupils  enrolled  in  the  high  school  ride  to 
school  in  the  vans  showing  that  farmers'  children  in  this  section  of 
the  county  take  advantage  of  the  excellent  oportunity  offered  them 
to  secure  high  school  training. 

The  primary  grade  pupils  have  a  teacher  who  devotes  the  entire 
day  to  them.  The  pupils  in  the  primary  grades  in  the  county 
cannot  do  independent  and  individual  work  in  school,  so  it  will  be 
granted  that  such  beginners  working  under  the  constant  super- 
vision of  a  trained  teacher  of  primary  pupils  ought  to  do  better 
work  than  can  be  done  by  such  pupils  in  one-teacher  schools  where 
the  teacher  cannot  devote  more  than  one-half  hour  to  them  each 
day.  The  other  teachers  in  the  grade  department  have  two  grades 
each  so  the  pupils  in  each  grade  have  the  benefit  of  the  teacher's 
guidance  during  at  least  one-half  of  the  day.  Standard  work  is 
done  in  the  high  school  department. 

A  weekly  paper  is  published  by  the  pupils  in  this  school.  Then- 
is  a  parent-teacher  association  organized  and  a  lyceum  course  was 
offered  during  this  year.  This  school,  as  a  community  center,  is 
a  valuable  asset  to  both  old  and  young  in  the  district. 

Four  of  the  ei«;ht  wagons  are  driven  by  advanced  pupils.  The 
monthly  salaries  of  drivers  this  year  are  as  follows:  $50,  $55,  $55 
$50,  $52,  $44,  $3(1.  $30.  The  number  of  pupils  hauled  in  each  wagon 
are  as  follows:  2(>,  22,  25,  24,  22,  25,  8,  8. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


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22  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

By  cuting  off  that  part  of  district  16  situated  in  Byron 
Township,  the  area  of  this  group  is  reduced  to  37  square  miles  and 
the  valuation  is  reduced  to  approximately  $450,000.  The  enumer- 
ation will  also  be  slightly  reduced. 

The  group,  as  outlined,  contains  only  37  square  miles.  A  union 
graded  school  can  be  located  in  this  group  so  that  it  will  not  be 
farther  than  six  and  one-half  miles  from  the  most  distant  corner  of 
the  district.  By  moving  to  a  central  point  the  school  houses  now 
ased  by  districts  Number  2  and  Number  17,  and  leaving  the  other 
schools  on  their  present  sites,  it  would  not  be  necessary  at  present  to 
employ  more  teachers  than  are  now  employed.  The  principal  of 
the  central  school  could  teach  the  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  grade 
pupils  of  the  entire  district  and  the  assistant  teacher  could  teach 
the  pupils  of  the  first  six  grades  living  near  the  central  school.  The 
schools  now  used  by  districts  1,  3,  16  and  18  could  be  kept  open  for 
pupils  up  to  the  seventh  grade.  At  present,  this  type  of  school 
would  cost  very  little  more  than  the  present  schools  are  costing. 

While  this  group  has  sufficient  area,  valuation  and  population 
to  organize  a  consolidated  district,  it  is  suggested  that  a  union 
graded  district  would  prove  less  burdensome  because  of  the  dif- 
ficulties involved  in  hauling  pupils  over  sandy  roads. 

GROUP  TWO. 

Dist.  4        Dist.  5        Dist.  6        Total 

Area   (sq.  mi.)   9V2  6  1%  23i/4 

Valuation,  1917 $149,207.00  $174,665.00  $235,180.00  $559,052.00 

Gen.   Levy    (mills)  5  3.8  3 

Approved  estimate  840.00  735.00  855.00        2,430.00 

Enumeration,  1917  41  25  58  124 

Enrollm't,  1916-17  37  16  40  93 

Estimated  cost  per 

pupil,  1917  22.69  45.94  21.37  26.13 

Number  of  teachers 

employed  Ill 

This  group  is  made  up  of  three  small  districts  and  has  an  area 
of  less  than  25  square  -miles.  But  since  the  valuation  is  in  excess  of 
$500,000,  a  consolidated  district  may  legally  be  formed.  A  union 
graded  district,  however  would  probally  be  best  suited  to  this 
group  at  this  time,  as  one  extra  room  and  one  extra  teacher  at  the 
central  school  in  District  No.  5  would  be  all  the  expense  necessary 
to  undertake  the  first  year  of  high  school  work  during  the  first  two 
years.  An  additional  teacher  will  be  needed  later,  as  the  high 
school  department  becomes  larger  and  more  extensive. 

No  child  need  be  located  more  than  six  miles  from  the  central 
school  in  this  district. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  23 

RIVERSIDE  DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

Mary  Poison,  Teacher 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Site  one  acre,  sloping  to  front,  two  toilets  not  screened  and 
without  pits,  fuel  house  in  poor  condition,  no  trees  or  shrubs  on 
school  ground,  no  walks  to  sehoolhouse  or  outbuildings,  water 
supplied  from  cistern  with  good  concrete  cover,  a  good  giant  stride 
is  the  only  playground  equipment,  a  stable  with  stalls  for  four 
horses,  three  horses  and  vehicles  011  ground  November  13,  1917. 
School  Building: 

Painted,  but  not  recently,   good  concrete  platform  in  front, 
good  foundation,  no  entrance  hall  or  cloakrooms,  improperly  lighted 
by  eight  windows,  four  on  each  side. 
Equipment : 

Non-adjustable  window  shades,  sash  curtains,  good  blackboards, 
21  double  and  12  single  desks,  teacher's  desk  and  chair  in  fair 
condition,  two  good  recitation  benches,  two  chairs  for  visitors,  an 
old  style  heater  with  jacket,  thermometer,  one  case  of  maps,  a  good 
globe,  dictionary  in  fair  condition,  four  volumes  of  Practical 
Refrence  Library,  six  volumes  of  Me  Cauley's  History  of  England, 
and  no  other  library  books,  reading,  agricultural  and  physiological 
charts,  bookcase  with  one  door  off,  organ,  no  framed  pictures,  flag 
not  displayed,  basin  for  lavatory  but  no  soap  or  towels,  no  screened 
lunch  closet,  no  equipment  for  domestic  science  or  manual  training. 
Organization : 

One  teacher,  first  year,  13  boys  and  14  girls,  six  grades,  no  boys' 
and  girls'  clubs,  twenty-five  recitations  daily  no  high  school  work. 

(See  Group  Three) 

FRIENDSHIP   DISTRICT   NO.    8. 

Helen  AYoodward,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Level  site  on  one  acre  (fenced). two  toilets  without  screens  or 
pits  located  too  near  the  well  which  furnishes  water,  new  wooden 
curb  on  well,  good  fuel  house,  no  trees,  no  walks,  a  stable  with  stalls 
for  six  horses,  three  horses  and  three  vehicles  on  ground  day  school 
was  inspected,  teeter-totter  only  piece  of  playground  equipment. 
School  Building: 

Painted,    but   not   recently,    good   foundation,    concrete   plat- 
form,  two   doors  in  front,  no   entrance   hall   or  cloakrooms,   im- 
properly lighted  by   eight    windows,   four   on  each   side. 
Equipment : 

Non-adjustable  window  shades,  sash  curtains,  blackboards  in 
fair  condition  but  insufficient  and  too  high  from  floor,  double  desks 


24  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

poorly  arranged,  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  two  good  recitation 
benches,  modern  heater,  one  case  of  maps,  no  drinking  fountain 
or  cooler,  no  globe,  no  library,  no  framed  pictures,  flag  not  displayed, 
organ,  basin  for  lavoratory,  bookcase,  no  screened  lunch  closet,  a 
dictionary,  agricultural  chart,  no  equipment  for  domestic  science 
or  manual  training. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  (first  year)  ;  12  boys  and  18  girls ;  thirty- three 
recitations  daily ;  all  grades  up  to  and  including  the  eighth,  no  high 
school  work. 

(See  Group  Three) 

CIRCLE  DISTRICT  NO.  9. 

Victoria  Marsh,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings: 

Level  site  of  one  acre  enclosed  with  woven  wire  fence ;  twenty- 
five  black  locust  trees  in  uncared  for  condition;  two  good  toilets; 
good  coal  house ;  good  barn ;  no  walks ;  one  horse  on  school  ground 
the  day  school  was  inspected;  all  outbuildings  painted. 
School  Building: 

Painted;  good  foundation;  cement  platform;  no  cloakrooms;  no 
entrance  hall ;  improperly  lighted  by  six  windows,  three  on  each  side. 
Equipment : 

Only  two  window  shades;  curtains;  good  blackboards;  double 
desks  well  arranged;  teacher's  desk  and  chair;  modern  heater; 
thermometer;  good  globe;  two  cases  of  maps;  dictionary  in  poor 
condition;  agricultural  chart;  seven  volumes  Pupils  and  Teachers 
Encyclopedia;  three  volumes  Lives  of  Our  Presidents;  about 


CIRCLE    DISTRICT     NO.    9. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


25 


seventy-five  volumes  of  library  books  too  advanced  for  the 
pupils  in  the  school ;  homemade  bookcase ;  several  framed  pictures ; 
flag  and  basin  for  lavatory.  The  school  has  no  chairs  for  visitors; 
no  drinking  fountain  or  cooler;  no  library  books  that  can  be  used 
by  the  primary  pupils;  no  screened  cupboard  for  lunches;  no 
equipment  for  domestic  science  or  manual  training. 
Organization. 

One  teacher  with  four  years  of  experience ;  11  boys  and  8  girls, 
distributed  in  six  grades;  36  daily  recitations  011  teacher's  prog- 
ram ;  no  high  school  work. 

(See  Group  Three) 

GROUP  THREE. 

Dist.  Dist,  Dist. 

No.  7  No.  8  No.  9  Total 

Area  (square  mi.)  lQi/>  10y2  10%  313/4 

Valuation,  1917 $278.333.00  $403,100.00  $491,434.00  1,172,867.00 

Gen.  levy,  m.,  3917  2.2  2.2  2 

AppVd   Est.,   1917         745.00  940.00        1,089.00         2,774.00 

Enumeration,  1917  39  43  30  102 

Enrollment,    1917-18  27  30  19  76 

Length      of      Term 

(months)  1917 887 

Cost  per  month  per 

child    3.45  3.91  8.19  4.76 

Number     teachers 

employed    1113 

Monthly  salaries  of 

teachers  65.00  65.00  70.00  200.00 

Number    years    ex- 
perience as  teachers  004 
Enrollment  Primary 

grade,  1917  *.  2  3  6  11 

Enrollment,        First 

grade,  1917  0426 

Enrollment,    Second 

grade.  1917  0000 

Enrollment,      Third 

grade,  1917  8  4  5  17 

Enrollment,   Fourth 

grade.  1917  3418 

Enrollment,       Fifth 

grade,  1917  4  3  1  8 

Enrollment,       Sixth 

grade.  1917  4  6  2  12 


26  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

Enrollment  Seventh 

grade,  1917  6  2  0  8 

Enrollment    Eighth 

grade,  1917 0426 

Total 27  30  19  76 

Number  Daily  Re- 
citations    25  33  36  94 

Number  Horses  driv- 
en to  school  by 
pupils  day  school 

was  inspected 3317 

This  group  should  include  one  square  mile  now  in  district  11, 
and  three-fourths  of  a  square  mile  in  District  10,  making  a  total  area 
of  33!/2  square  miles  and  increasing  the  valuation  to  about  $1,200, 
000.  These  districts  are  level,  have  good  roads  and  bridges  and  a 
combined  valuation  greater  than  that  of  either  the  Burlington  or 
Driftwood  districts.  A  splendid  consolidated  or  union  graded 
school  could  be  maintained  by  this  group  of  districts.  No  child 
need  be  located  more  than  six  and  one-half  miles  from  the  con- 
solidated school  building.  Enough  horses  are  used  to  transport 
pupils  to  the  little  one-room  schools  to  furnish  transportation  to 
the  pupils  in  the  district  should  they  consolidate.  The  districts 
have  no  outstanding  bonds. 

WATROUS,  DISTRICT  10. 

Nan  Sampson,  Teacher. 

The  level  site  contains  one  acre  enclosed  by  fence.  There  are 
two  toilets,  a  coal  house,  a  barn,  a  cistern  and  a  one-room  school 
building  on  the  site.  The  toilets  are  not  screened  and  the  pits  are 
not  cared  for.  The  cistern  has  a  good  concrete  cover.  The  barn 
has  stalls  for  five  horses.  Three  horses  and  three  vehicles  were 
used  to  transport  pupils  to  the  school  the  day  the  school  was 
inspected.  There  is  no  playground  equipment  and  there  are  no 
growing  trees  on  the  ground. 

The  school  building  is  painted  white,  has  a  good  foundation, 
and  a  wooden  platform  in  front  and  is  improperly  lighted  by  six 
windows  arranged  three  on  each  side.  There  is  no  entrance  hall,  no 
cloakroom,  no  screened  cupboards  for  lunches,  and  no  means  of 
ventilation  except  windows  and  transom. 

The  school  is  equipped  with  good  non-adjustable  window 
shades,  sash  curtains,  double  desks,  an  old  style  heater  placed  in 
center  of  room  and  affording  no  ventilation,  teacher 's  desk  and 
chair,  a  large  clock,  one  case  of  maps,  a  good  globe  and  globe  case ; 
a  bookcase  and  an  Agriculture  chart.  The  library  contains  six 
volumes  of  Teachers  and  Pupils  Encyclopedias,  eight  volumes  of 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


27 


Universal  Encyclopedias,  three  volumes  of  standard  literature  too 
advanced  for  the  pupils  in  the  school.  There  are  no  library  books 
for  pupils  in  the  primary  and  intermediate  grades,  no  chairs  for 
visitors,  no  recitation  benches,  no  thermometer,  no  drinking  fountain 
or  cooler,  no  framed  pictures,  no  flag  and  no  equipment  for  domestic 
science  and  manual  training.  A  basin,  soap,  and  paper  towels 
furnish  lavatory  facilities  for  the  pupils. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  eight  grades  enrolled  in 
this  school.  The  teacher  has  had  two  years'  experience  as  a 
teacher.  Eight  boys  and  four  girls  are  enrolled.  The  school  day 
is  chopped  up  into  24  recitation  periods.  No  high  school  work  is 
done. 

(See  Group  Four) 

HARMONY,  DISTRICT  11. 

Carrie  Cook,  Teacher. 

Site  of  one  acre  is  level,  unfenced,  and  without  trees  or  shrubs. 
There  are  two  toilets,  a  coal  house,  a  barn  with  stalls  for  five  horses, 
and  a  school  house  with  annex  enclosing  cistern  built  on  this  acre 
The  toilets  are  not  screened  and  have  no  pits.  The  cistern  has  a 
good  concrete  cover.  The  playground  equipment  consists  of  basket 
ball  goals  and  giant  stride.  There  are  no  walks  to  the  school  or 
outhouses. 

The  one-room  school  building  is  painted  white,  has  a  good 
foundation,  a  good  cement  platform,  but  has  no  entrance  hall,  no 
cloakrooms,  no  screened  cupboard  for  lunch  baskets,  and  no  means 
of  ventilation,  except  windows  and  transom.  It  is  improperly 
lighted  by  six  windows  arranged  three  on  each  side. 

The   equipment   consists    of  non-adjustable   window   shades, 


HARMONY     DISTRICT    XO.     11. 


28 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


blackboards  in  fair  condition,  but  too  high  for  the  pupils,  double 
desks  poorly  arranged  and  too  large  for  the  small  children,two  good 
recitation  benches,  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  old  type  heater,  water 
cooler,  one  case  maps,  a  good  globe,  Agricultural  chart,  dictionary 
and  stand,  a  flag,  two  large  and  three  small  pictures,  four  shelves  for 
books  and  basin  for  washing  hands.  There  are  no  curtains,  no 
chairs  for  visitors,  no  books  in  library  for  the  primary  grades  and 
few  that  are  read  by  advanced  pupils,  no  musical  instrument  and 
no  equipment  for  teaching  domestic  science  and  manual  training. 
The  library  contains  two  sets  of  Teachers  and  Pupils  Encyclopedia, 
and  about  fifty  books  that  are  too  adviiiioed  for  pupils  enrolled  in 
the  school. 

One  teacher-  is  employed,  this  being  her  second  year  as  a  teacher, 
both  years  having  been  spent  in  this  district.  The  five  boys  and 
four  girls  are  divided  into  four  grades,  making  small  and  uninter- 
esting classes.  The  teacher  has  18  recitations  daily.  Xo  high 
school  work  is  given. 

(See  Group  Four.) 


VALLEY  CENTER,  DISTRICT  26. 

Hannah  Collins,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

•  Site  one  acre,  level,  not  fenced ;  water  supplied  from  cistern ; 
three  toilets,  two  of  them  provided  with  a  screen ;  good  fuel  house ; 
basket  ball  goals;  no  trees;  no  walks;  no  shrubs  on  ground. 
School  Building: 

Needs  repainting ;  fair  foundation,  two  rooms,  ventilated  by 
modern  heater,  improperly  lighted  by  windows  arranged  on  two 


VALLEY  CENTER,  DISTRICT  NO.  26. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  29 

sides,  has  no  entrance  hall,  no  cloakroom,  and  no  screened  cupboard 
for  lunch  baskets. 

Equipment : 

Window  shades;  good  blackboards  placed  too  high;  double 
desks  well  arranged;  good  teacher's  desk  and  chair;  good  recitation 
bench;  modern  heater;  case  of  maps,  small  globe,  pooi  dictionary, 
Teachers'  and  Pupils'  Encyclopedia  in  six  volumes;  no  other  library 
books;  two  small  framed  pictures ;  organ ;  two  flag**:  no  sash 
curtains;  no  thermometer;  no  drinking  fountain  or  cooler;  no  book- 
case; no  library  books  suitable  for  children  enrolled;  and  no 
domestic  science  and  manual  training  equipment. 

Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  13  boys  and  11  girls 
enrolled.-  The  students  are  classified  in  eight  grades,  requiring  32 
recitations  each  day.  Xo  high  school  work  is  given. 

(See  Group  Four) 


30 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


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ALFALFA  COUNTY  31 

GROUP  FOUR,  Continued. 


By  detaching  1%  square  miles  from  the  north  ends  of  Districts 
10  and  11,  and  2i/2square  miles  from  the  west  side  of  District  26, 
the  area  of  this  group  is  reduced  to  42  square  miles,  with  little  re- 
duction in  valuation.  Territory  detached  from  districts  10  and  11  is 
included  in  Group  Three,  while  that  detached  from  District  26  is 
added  to  the  Burlington  consolidated  school  district.  The  location 
of  the  schoolhouse  need  not  be  more  than  seven  miles  from  the 
remotest  corners  of  the  district.  With  the  exception  of  a  narrow 
strip  of  broken  and  sandy  soil  along  the  river  that  forms  the 
southern  boundary  of  this  group,  the  territory  included  is  level  and 
has  smooth  dirt  roads  suitable  for  transportation.  The  rough 
land  and  sandy  roads  in  the  south  do  not  make  transportation  im- 
practical. This  group  could  easily  maintain  a  good  consolidated 
school,  as  it  has  more  than  $1,000,000  valuation,  after  detaching  the 
territory  that  belongs  in  other  groups.  No  more  horses  would  be 
required  to  transport  pupils  to  the  central  school  than  are  now  used 
to  transport  the  children  to  the  little  one-teacher  schools  where  the 
classes  are  small,  recitations  short,  and  course  of  study  limited  to 
eight  grades. 

Districts  27  and  28  have  more  than  enough  money  in  the  sinking 
funds  to  pay  their  bonds  at  maturity.  Several  of  the  buildings 
could  be  moved  to  a  convenient  site  and  used  by  the  consolidated 
district,  either  as  a  temporary  school  plant  or  as  a  teacherage.  The 
others  are  so  nearly  worn  out  that  they  could  not  be  moved 
profitably. 


32 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


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1917  
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1917 

1 

30 

1 

38 

Enrollment. 
1916-17  ... 

18 

18 

ALFALFA  COUNTY  33 


GROUP  SIX. 

Dist.  Dist.  Dist          Dist, 

No.  20      No.  21       "No..  34    No.  35  Total 

Area,  sq.  mi.  6%  6  9%  11%  32% 

Valuation, 

1917  $34,830.00  $43,245.00  $71,990.00  $41,335.00  $191,400.00 

General  levy, 


425.00         310.00        1,768.00 
1  1  4 

34  11  113 

28  7  71 

This  group  of  districts  situated  in  the  sand  hill  region  has  not 
sufficient  valuation  to  organize  a  consolidated  school.  A  union 
graded  school  located  near  the  center  of  the  group  would  provide 
high  school  facilities  for  the  pupils  in  this  section  of  the  county 
at  small  additional  expense  to  the  taxpayers.  No  child  in  the  dis- 
trict need  be  located  farther  than  six  miles  from  the  school  pro- 
vided all  section  lines  are  open  and  passable.. 

» 

GROUP  SEVEN 

Districts  36  and  48  are  so  situated  that  it  will  prove  difficult  to 
include  them  in  any  one  of  the  groups.  There  is  so  much  sand  in 
this  section  of  the  county  that  it  would  hardly  prove  practicable  to 
combine  them  with  districts  34  and  35,  on  the  north,  or  with 
District  33.  northwest,  while  the  river  cuts  them  off  on  the  south. 
It  may  be  that  a  joint  district  could  be  formed,  composed  of  Districts 
36  and  48.  and  the  districts  lying  east  in  Grant  County.  Districts 
36  and  48  have  a  combined  valuation  of  $159,590.  By  combining 
their  schools,  they  could  employ  two  teachers  and  thus  secure  the 
advantage  of  better  gradation  that  would  be  well  worth  the  extra 
effort  the  children  would  necessarily  have  to  make  in  order  to  travel 
the  added  distance  to  the  school.  A  union  graded  school  located 
near  the  center  of  this  group  would  be  feasible,  but  it  would  make 
it  necessary  to  raise  the  tax  levy  considerably  above  the  present 
rate. 


34  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

FAIEVIEW,  DISTRICT  NO.  27. 

Mrs.  Gertrude  Pulliam,  Teacher 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Site  one  acre,  unfericed,  no  growing  trees,  no  walks,  two  un- 
screened toilets  with  pits  that  are  not  kept  cleaned  or  treated  to 
make  them  odorless,  fuel  house,  barn  for  eight  horses,  giant  stride, 
outbuildings  not  painted. 
School  Building: 

Painted,  poor  foundation,  covered  porch  with  concrete  floor,  no 
cloakroom,  no  entrance  hall,  no  screened  cupboard  for  lunches,  one 
classroom,  improperly  lighted  by  six  windows  arranged  three  on  a 
side. 
Equipment : 

.  Not  enough  window  shades,  good  blackboards,  double  desks. 
good  desk  and  chair  for  teacher  but  no  chairs  for  visitors,  one 
recitation  bench,  modern  heater,  one  case  of  maps,  a  good  globe, 
reading  chart,  good  dictionary,  library  books  (mostly  readers)  for 
all  grades,  12  volumes  Warner's  Encyclopedia,  6  volumes  of  New 
Practical  Refrence  Book,  bookcase,  two  small  framed  pictures,  flag. 
water  cooler,  organ,  six  chairs  for  primary  grades,  and  sand  table. 

Organization: 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  18  boys  and  11  girls 
enrolled  in  the  school.  All  grades  up  to  and  including  the  eighth 
are  included  in  this  enrollment.  The  teacher  has  divided  the  day 
into  25  recitation  periods.  No  higher  school  wo%rk  is  given. 

(See   Group  Four) 

PLEASANT  VALLEY,  DISTRICT  NO.  41. 

Leora  Hale,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  school  site  contains  about  two  acres  on  which  approx- 
imately 75  elm  trees  have  been  planted.  The  trees  need  to  be 
cultivated  and  trimmed.  There  are  two  poorly  kept  toilets  and  a 
good  fuel  house  on  the  site.  There  are  no  walks  from  the  road  to 
the  house  or  from  the  school  to  the  outhouses,  but  there  is  a  good 
hogtight  fence  around  the  school  grounds.  Water  is  secured  from 
a  well  on  the  school  ground. 

School  Building: 

With  the  exception  of  the  wooden  platform  in  the  front,  the 
school  building  appears  to  be  in  good  condition.  It  has  two  front 
doors,  no  entrance  hall,  no  cloakrooms  and  is  improperly  lighted 
by  six  windows  arranged  three  on  two  sides. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  35 

Equipment : 

The  blackboards  are  good,  but  too  high  from  the  floor.  The 
single  desks  are  in  excellent  condition  but  since  only  one  size 
was  provided,  the  feet  of  the  small  children  fail  to  touch  the  floor 
A  modern  heater  supplies  heat  and  ventilation.  Other  equipment 
consists  of  a  case  of  maps,  a  globe,  a  large  U.S.  Flag,  a  wooden  book- 
case, a  large  dictionary,  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  recitation  bench, 
organ,  adjustable  window  shades  but  no  sash  curtains,  and  play- 


PLEASAXT  VALLEY,    DISTRICT    NO.    41. 

ground  equipment,  including  an  excellent  slide,  two  swings  and 
one  teeter-totter.  The  library  books,  sixty  in  number,  are  too 
advanced  for  the  children  in  the  school  and,  as  a  result,  are  in 
splendid  condition,  although  they  have  probably  been  in  the  school 
for  more  than  ten  years.  An  expensive  Agricultural  chart  and  a 
Physiological  chart  should  not  have  been  purchased  until  after  some 
of  the  more  essential  needs  of  the  district  were  supplied. 
Organization : 

The  teacher  is  teaching  her  second  term  of  school,  having  begun 
her  professional  career  in  this  district  last  year.  There  are  12  boys 
and  6  girls  enrolled.  These  are  distributed  into  six  grades  .  The 
school  day  is  divided  into  thirty  recitation  periods.  No  high  school 
work  is  given. 

(See  Group  Eight). 

SHORT  SPRINGS,  DISTRICT  NO.  42 

L.  C.   Stogsdill,  Teacher 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings: 

Site  one  acre,  level,  fenced:  water  supplied  from  a  cistern;  two 
toilets  not  screened:  good  fuel  house:  elm  trees  in  fair  growing 


3l>  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

condition;  cement  walks  i'rom  road  to  school  and  from  school  to 

outhouses. 

School  Building: 

Painted;  good  foundation;  good  covered  porch;  no  entrance 
hall;  no  cloakrooms;  improperly  lighted  with  eight  windows,  four 
on  each  side ;  shelves  without  screens  for  lunches  and  storage. 

Equipment : 

Good  brown  adjustable  shades;  no  sash  curtains;  poor 
and  insufficient  blackboards;  teacher's  desk  and  chair;  twenty 
single  and  twenty  double  desks  in  fair  condition;  modern  heater; 
water  cooler ;  maps ;  globe ;  dictionary ;  library  books  too  advanced 
for  pupils ;  bookcase ;  one  framed  picture ;  no  flag ;  basin  and  soap ; 
<organ;  teeter-totter,  slide  and  basket  ball  goals;  reading  chart; 
Agricultural  chart. 

Organization: 

One  teacher,  twenty  years'  experience;  second  year  in  this 
district;  14  boys  and  18  girls;  eight  grades;  twenty-seven  daily 
recitations ;  no  high  school  work. 

(See  Group  Eight) 

PLEASANT  HILL.  DISTRICT  NO.  43. 

Harry  Foster,  Teacher 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Rough  site,  one  acre,  not  fenced;  water  supplied  from  well  on 
school  ground  too  close  to  toilets ;  two  very  good  toilets,  not  screened 
and  not  well  kept ;  poor  fuel  house ;  a  half  dozen  locust  trees  in  fair 
growing  condition;  no  walks  to  school  or  from  school  to  out- 
buildings ;  no  playground  equipment. 

School  Building: 

Painted;  good  foundation;  good  covered  porch  with  concrete 
floor;  no  entrance  hall;  no  cloakrooms;  improperly  lighted  by  six 
windows,  three  on  each  side;  no  screened  cupboard  for  lunches. 

Equipment : 

Non-adjustable  window  shades;  no  sach  curtains;  blackboards  good, 
but  not  sufficient  and  too  high;  new  double  desks;  good  teacher's 
desk  and  chair ;  two  good  recitation  benches ;  an  old  type  of  heater ; 
no  drinking  fountain  or  water  cooler;  one  case  of  maps:  globe; 
dictionary  and  stand ;  no  library  books ;  no  pictures,  but  an  expen- 
sive Agricultural  chart  that  is  not  especially  needed:  basin 
individual  towels  and  soap;  organ. 

Organization : 

One  teacher,  six  years  experience,  three  in  this  district ;  10  boys 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  37 

and  18  girls;  Severn  grades;  30  recitation  periods  a  day;  no  clubs; 
no  high  school  work ;  school  nine  miles  from  the  nearest  high  school. 

(See  Group  Eight) 

ENTERPRISE,  DISTRICT  NO.  44. 

Sylvia  Stout,  Teacher 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Level  site,  fenced  hogtight;  two  toilets  in  bad  condition,  no 
screens  to  toilets  and  no  pits;  fuel  house  in  fair  condition;  no  walks 
from  road  to  schoolhouse  or  from  schoolhouse  to  outhouses ;  basket 
ball  goals  and  teeter-totters;  no  trees  or  shrubs. 

School  Building: 

Painted ;  no  entrance  hall ;  no  cloakrooms ;  improperly  and  in- 
sufficiently lighted  by  six  windows,  three  on  each  side ;  school  room 
needs  to  be  papered ;  no  cupboard  for  lunches.  New  school  building 
will  be  required  in  the  district  before  many  years. 

Equipment : 

Adjustable  window  shades,  sash  curtains;  blackboards  in  poor 
condition  and  too  high;  old  double  desks;  good  teacher's  desk  and 
chair;  two  good  recitation  benches;  modern  heater;  dictionary; 
five  volumes  of  encyclopedia;  no  other  library  books;  two  framed 
pictures  not  standard;  flag;  organ;  no  equipment  for  teaching 
agriculture,  domestic  science  or  manual  training. 

Organization: 

One  teacher,  no  previous  experience ;  nine  grades,  from  primary 
to  eighth  inclusive ;  22  boys  and  14  girls ;  26  recitation  periods  a  day ; 
no  high  school  work. 

(See  Group  Eight) 


38 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


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ALFALFA  COUNTY  39 

This  group  of  districts  has  sufficient  area,  valuation,  and  enu- 
meration to  maintain  a  strong  consolidated  district  or  a  union 
graded  district  in  which  high  school  training  could  be  provided.  No 
child  in  this  suggested  district  need  be  located  farther  than  six  miles 
from  the  school  house. 

The  county  is  level,  roads  and  bridges  are  good.  Several  of  the 
buildings  now  in  use  could  be  moved  to  a  convenient  site  and  used 
for  school  purposes  until  the  people  decide  to  erect  a  modern 
building  in  which  the  high  school  could  be  housed.  The  old  build- 
ings could  then  be  sold  or  converted  into  a  teachers'  cottage. 

Districts  41  and  42  have  outstanding  bonds  of  $300  and  $500  re- 
spectively but  sufficient  money  on  hand  to  take  them  up. 

•    GROUP  NINE 

Districts  40  and  39  are  cut  off  on  the  north  by  the  Salt  Fork  of 
the  Arkansas  River  and  on  the  south  by  the  independent  district  of 
Cherokee.  District  39  could  enter  into  a  combination  composed  of 
Districts  39,  38  and  27,  or  it  could  combine  with  39,  40  and  41.  But 
since  this  district  is  about  equidistant  from  the  Cherokee  and  In- 
gersoll high  schools,  it  will  probably  be  absorbed  by  one  of  these 
districts  in  the  future  or  will  be  divided  between  these  districts.  In 
making  suggestions  for  redistricting  the  county  I  have  left  it  in  the 
Ingersoll  group  because  it  is  by  reason  of  its  location  fortunately 
situated  with  respect  to  high  school  advantages  for  the  children  who 
complete  the  common  school  course  in  the  little  district  school.  As 
the  roads  are  improved,  this  district  will,  no  doubt,  be  absorbed  by 
the  Ingersoll  and  Cherokee  districts. 

GROUP  TEN 

This  group  is  composed  of  districts  37.  38.  47  and  the  northern 
part  of  districts  51  and  52.  Although  the  map  of  this  group  ap- 
pears irregular  and  undesirable,  a  central  union  graded  or  consol- 
idated school  can  be  located  where  it  will  not  be  more  than  six 
miles  from  the  extreme  corners  of  the  enlarged  district. 

The  group  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Great  Salt  Plains  and 
on  the  west  by  the  Cherokee  and  Ingersoll  groups.  District  47 
naturally  falls  in  the  Cherokee  group,  but  should  it  unite  with 
Cherokee,  districts  37  and  38  would  be  cut  off  from  future  consol- 
idation or  would  be  forced  to  maintain  a  very  weak  union  school 
because  of  the  limited  valuation  and  small  enumeration. 

The  splendid  roads  in  this  section  of  the  county  make  it  desir- 
able consolidation  territory  and  there  is  no  valid  reason  why  the 
children  living  within  the  districts  composing  this  group  should  not 


40  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


JAY,      DISTRICT    NO.     52. 

have  provided  for  them  a  splendid  high  school  such  as  is  maintained 
by  the  Cherokee  district. 

The  approximate  valuation  of  this  group  is  $690,000  and  the 
enumeration  is  about  115. 

The  school  buildings  in  these  districts  are  old  and  unmodern. 
Within  a  few  years  it  will  be  necessary  to  build  new  school  houses 
in  at  least  two  o|  the  districts  and  to  make  expensive  repairs  and 
alterations  in  the  others.  Before  going  to  this  expense  the  people 
should  carefully  consider  a  plan  of  consolidation  lest  they  awake 
some  morning  to  find  themselves  numbered  among  the  unprogressive 
district  in  the  state. 

LOCUST  C4ROVE,  DISTRICT  45. 

Mrs.  Alta  M.  Giddons,Teacher 

This  is  undoubtely  the  model  school  of  Alfalfa  County.  Mrs. 
Giddons,  the  teacher,  is  a  normal  school  graduate  who  prefers  to 
teacn  in  a  rural  district  rather  than  in  town.  It  is  fortunate  that 
the  school  board  in  this  district  secured  so  able  a  teacher  to  work  in 
the  splendid  building  and  with  the  complete  equipment  that  is 
rapidly  being  provided. 

The  schoolhouse  is  the  best  one  of  the  two  modern  rural  build- 
ings in  the  county,  having  a  large  classroom  properly  lighted  by  win- 
dows on  only  one  side  and  at  the  rear,  although  those  at  the  rear  are 
too  large.  There  is  a  large  basement  in  which  domestic  science  and 
manual  training  work  is  done.  The  school  has  an  entrance  hall  and 
a  coat  room.  Warm  lunches  are  served.  The  school  board  furnishes 
all  supplies.  A  modern  heater  affords  warmth  and  ventilation 


41 


LOCUST  GROVE,    DISTRICT  XO.    45. 

during  the  winter.  Sand  tables  and  primary  helps  are  provided  for 
the  little  folks. 

There  are  several  things  that  needed  to  be  done  at  the  time  the 
school  was  inspected,  but,  as  the  people  in  the  district  appeared 
anxious  to  have  a  real  model  school,  they  have  probably  remedied 
the  defects  by  this  time.  For  instance,  the  school  needs  a  few 
library  books  that  can  be  used  by  the  primary  and  intermediate 
grades  and  the  toilets  needed  some  repairs  and  better  attention.  A 
drinking  fountain  or  cooler  would  also  add  to  the  health  conditions, 
while  the  appearance  of  the  school  would  fee  improved  by  giving 
more  care  and  attention  to  the  grounds  and  trees. 

It  is  suggested  that  Boards  of  other  districts  visit  this  building 
and  note  what  a  progressive  district  can  do.  The  building  cost 
$1,700. 

CHEROKEE,  DISTRICT  NO.  46. 

•  F.  N.  Howell,  Superintendent. 

This  is  an  independent  city  or  town  district  that  maintains  a 
standard  fully  accredited  school.  Eighteen  teachers  are  employed. 
There  are  383  pupils  enrolled  in  the  grades  and  165  are  doing  high 
school  work.  The  high  school  enrollment  represents  almost  one- 
third  of  the  total  enrollment,  which  is  a  splendid  showing.  This 
is  made  possible  by  the  fact  that  46  pupils  from  adjoining  rural 
districts  are  getting  their  high  school  training  in  this  school,  34  of 
them  are  paying  their  own  tuition  and  12  of  them  having  their 
tuition  paid  for  them  by  the  tax  payers  of  their  home  districts.  Six 


42 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


SCHOOL  BUILDING  AT    CHEROKEE. 

pupils  from  adjoining  rural  districts  are  attending  the  lower  grades 
of  this  city  school  and  paying  tuition. 

The  teachers  employed  in  this  school  meet  all  of  the  require- 
ments of  teachers  in  accredited  schools. 

The  following  should  be  compared  with  the  corresponding  items, 
of  suggested  groups : 

Area 9  Square  miles 

Valuation,  1917-      — $1,353,416. 

General  levy,  1917—     — 9.2  mills 

Approved   estimate—     —$16,780. 

Enumeration,  1917  -       —561, 

Enrollment,  Nov.  1917 548. 

Four  years  of  high  school  work. 

Several  of  the  groups  suggested  can  maintain  as  good  schools  on 
their  valuations  as  is  maintained  by  the  city  of  Cherokee  provided 
the  people  in  these  groups  are  willing  to  pay  the  price  the  town 
people  pay. 

GROUP  ELEVEN 

This  group  includes  an  independent  city  district,  a  rural 
district  on  the  west  and  one-half  of  a  rural  district  on  the  south. 
The  city  school  is  probably  the  best  equipped  school  of  its  kind  in 
the  county,  while  the  rural  school  is  undoubtedly  the  best  in  this 
entire  section  of  the  state.  It  will  be  necessary  either  to  build  a 
new  schoolhouse  in  District  53,  south  of  Cherokee,  in  the  immediate 
future,  or  to  consolidate.  The  north  half  of  the  district  naturally 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  43 

belongs  with  the  Cherokee  district  and  should  be  attached  in  order 
that  all  the  children  in  that  part  of  the  district  might  have  the 
benefit  of  the  excellent  school  maintained  by  the  city  district. 

District  45  has  a  new  building,  one  of  the  best  in  the  state  and 
well  equipped.  It  will  probably  be  a  number  of  years  before  the 
people  in  that  district  will  consent  to  abandon  that  building.  In 
the  meantime,  the  graduates  of  the  school  will  be  transferred  to 
the  high  schools  at  Ingersoll  and  Cherokee  for  secondary  training. 
Later,  the  territory  now  included  in  District  45  may  be  absorbed  by 
the  Cheroke  and  Ingersoll  districts. 

KEYSTONE,  DISTRICT  NO.  57. 

MILDRED  FOSTER,  Teacher: 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Two  acre  site,  level  and  fenced  with  chain  cable,  water  sup- 
plied from  well  on  school  ground,  two  dilapidated  and  poorly  kept 
closets,  twenty-five  stunted  locust  trees  in  poor  condition,  fuel  kept 
in  fuel  room  in  school  house,  playground  equipment  in  bad  condition 
barn  and  outhouses  not  painted,  four  horses  on  ground  and  teacher 


KEYSTONE,    DISTRICT    NO.    57. 

reports  that  seven  are  usually  driven  to  school  by  pupils.     Large 
church  across  the  road  just  north  of  the  school  site. 

School  Building: 

A  two  story  artificial  stone  building,  the  upper  story  of  which 
is  used  as  a  lodge  hall.  The  school  district  owns  only  the  lower 
story,  which  is  used  for  a  school  room.  This  building  has  been 
braced  up  to  keep  it  from  falling.  It  will  no  doubt  be  necessary 
to  provide  a  new  building  for  the  children  of  this  district  in  the 


44  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

near  future.  The  building  is  improperly  lighted,  having  eight  small 
windows  arranged  four  on  each  side.  No  coat  rooms,  entrance  hall 
or  lunch  cupboard. 

Equipment : 

Good  adjustable  desks  were  being  placed  in  the  school  on  the 
sixth  day  of  November,  1917  the  day  the  inspection  was  made.  A 
modern  heating  system,  water  cooler,  case  of  maps,  a  poor  globe, 
a  library  containing  several  books  for  primary  grades  and  several 
for  the  intermediate  and  grammar  grades,  with  a  large  number  for 
grades  above  those  enrolled  in  the  school,  a  broken  bookcase, 
dictionary,  reading  chart,  agricultural  chart,  four  framed  pictures, 
good  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  flag,  basin  and  towels  for  children, 
no  musical  instrument,  not  sufficient  hooks  for  coats  and  wraps, 
not  enough  blackboard  space  and  that  provided  is  too  high  from 
floor.  No  equipment  for  domestic  science  or  manual  training. 

Organization : 

One  teacher  teaches  18  boys  and  18  girls,  divided  into  eight 
divisions.  Daily  program  provides  for  36  recitations.  No  boys' 
or  girls' clubs.  Six  miles  to  nearest  accredited  high  school.  Three 
pupils  from  this  district  in  high  school  of  adjoining  district, 
although  five  completed  the  eight  grade  work  last  year. 
(See  Group  Twelve) 

MOUNT  ZION,  DISTRICT  NO.  58. 

Grace  Wilson,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  school  site  is  not  fenced  and  has  no  growing  trees.      There 
are  two  poor  toilets  without  screens  or  pits,  a  good  storm  cave, 
good  fuel  house  and  a  stable.    Water  is  supplied  from  a  good 
cistern;  basket  ball  goals  down;  no  other  playground  equipment. 
School  Building: 

Painted;  brick  foundation;  cement  platform  in  front;  no 
entrance  hall  or  cloakrooms;  no  screened  cupboards  for  lunches; 
improperly  lighted  by  six  windows,  arranged  three  on  each  side 
needs  repairing,  using  the  same  shades  at  present  because  they  are 
good  for  both  walls  and  ceiling;  one  room. 

Equipment: 

Brown,  adjustable  window  shades;  sash  curtains;  blackboards 
in  fair  condition,  but  too  high  from  floor;  old  style  heater;  one 
good  recitation  bench;  new  single  desks  but  poorly  arranged; 
library  contains  five  volumes  of  Encyclopedia;  about  one  dozen 
books  suitable  for  grammar  grade  pupils  and  about  thirty  too 
advanced  for  any  pupils  enrolled  in  the  school ;  dictionary  In  poor 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  45 

condition  but  new  one  lias  been  ordered;  three  framed  pictures; 
flag;  basin  for  lavatory;  organ;  sand  table;  teacher's  desk  and 
chair  in  fair  condition;  no  chairs  for  visitors;  no  thermometer; 
no  drinking  fountain  or  cooler;  no  library  books  for  primary  and 
intermediate  pupils;  no  equipment  for  teaching  domestic  science 
or  manual  training;  no  doors  on  bookcase;  no  mapsjno  globe. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  employed,  20  boys  and  8  girls  enrolled,  eight 
grades  represented,  29  daily  recitations;  no  boys'  or  girls'  clubs; 
2%  miles  to  the  high  school  at  Dacoma ;  5  pupils  from  this  dictrict 
are  attending  high  school  in  other  districts  this  year. 
(See  Group  Twelve) 

ELM  MOTT,  DISTRICT  NO.  74. 

Eunice  Edwards,  Teacher. 
Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

Site  not  fenced;  water  supplied  from  well  with  rotten  wooden 
cover,  making  it  both  unsafe  and  unsanitary ;  two  poor  toilets  with- 
out screens  and  with  pits  uncared  for;  good  fuel  house;  no  trees; 
shrubs  or  flower  beds ;  one  swing  and  one  teeter-totter. 
School  Building : 

Painted  but  not  recently:  good  foundation;  cement  platform  in 
front :  combined  entrance  hall  and  cloakroom ;  improperly  lighted 
by  six  windows  arranged  three  on  each  side;  only  one  room;  vent- 
ilation supplied  by  modern  heater.  The  school  has  no  means  of  pro- 
tecting the  childrens'  lunches  from  flies. 
Equipment : 

New  brown  adjustable  window  shades :  sash  curtains ;  plenty 
of  blackboard  space  :  boards  in  good  condition  but  too  high  from  the 
floor;  old  double  desks  poorly  arranged;  good  globe;  good  teachers' 
desk  and  chair :  one  chair  for  visitors ;  modern  heater :  Agriculture 
chart ;  good  dictionary ;  good  sectional  bookcase  containing  three 
books  suitable  for  primary  grades  and  about  seventy  suitable  for 
the  intermediate  and  grammar  grades,  others  too  advanced:  flag; 
basin  for  lavatory:  organ;  clock.  The  school  has  no  recitation 
benches,  no  thermometer :  no  drinking  fountain  or  cooler ;  no  maps : 
no  framed  pictures:  no  sand  table:  no  equipment  for. manual  train- 
ing or  domestic  science. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed ;  10  boys  and  5  girls  are  enrolled ;  pupils 
are  divided  into  seven  grades;  daily  schedule  provides  for  3$ 
recitations.  There  are  no  boys'  and  girls'  clubs :  six  pupils  from  this 
district  are  attending  high  school  in  other  districts.  This  school 
is  three  miles  from  Dacoma. 

(See  Group  Twelve) 


46  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  TWELVE. 

Dist.              Dist.              Dist.  Total 
No.  57          No.  58          No.74 

Area  (so   miles)                      83^                    9                7%  25i/4 

Valuation,   1917..1....$186,700.00  $241,990.00  $312,040.00  $740,730.00 

A^p^dm,3L917 1,080.00  755.00  630.00        2,465.00 

Enumeration,  1917  ...  46 

Enrollment,  1917  47  29 

Enrollment  by  grades, 
November,  1917 : 

Primary   J 8  0 

First    1 4  3 

Second  4  12 

Third 3 

Fourth    

Fifth  2  6 

Sixth  

Seventh 6 

Eighth 3  0 

Total  36  15  79 

Number  of  teachers  1 

Number  of  grades 

Daily  Recitations 36  29  32 

Months  of  School 

1917-18  _ 8  7  772-J 

Number  of  Horses 4 

This  group  of  districts,  bounded  on  the  east  by  consolidatec 
District  No.  3  and  on  the  west  by  Woods  County,  illustrates  th 
disadvantage  of  sporadic  consolidation.  Should  this  group  organ 
ize  as  a  union  graded  or  consolidated  district,  the  result  would  b 
a  long  narrow  district  in  which  the  schoolhouse  need  not  be  locate< 
farther  than  6*4  miles  from  any  home.  Transportation  in  thi 
section  of  level  and  rolling  prairie  country  would  not  be  difficult 
The  roads  are  good  and  are  being  put  into  better  condition  eac] 
year. 

It  would  probably  be  better  for  these  districts  to  unite  with 
certain  districts  in  Woods  County  around  the  little  town  of  Daeonq 
as  a  center. 

Enough  horses  were  in  the  school  barns  on  the  day  the  schoolj 
were  visited  to  furnish  transportation  to  all  pupils  in  the  district. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


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48 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


CHICAGO,    DISTRICT    NO.   63. 


By  including  in  this  group  the  south  half  of  Districts  51  and  52 
and  the  southeast  one-fourth  of  District  53,  we  have  an  aggregate 
area  of  approximately  46  square  miles  and  a  valuation  of  $1,192,- 
260.  The  enumeration  of  scholastics  will  also  be  increased  to 
about  175. 

It  will  be  noted  that  District  63  is  the  only  district  in  this 
group  that  does  not  have  enough  money  on  hand  in  the  sinking 
fund  to  pay  off  the  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  district.  The  school- 
house  in  District  63  is  new,  it  being  one  of  the  two  rural  school 
buildings  in  the  county  built  according  to  modern  ideas.  This 
building  could  be  moved  to  a  central  location  and  used  by  the 
consolidated  district.  All  school  buildings  in  these  districts! 
could  be  moved  in  this  way  and  used  as  a  temporary  school  plant, 
as  the  territory  included  in  this  group  is  level  and  the  roads  are 
in  good  condition.  The  consolidated  schoolhouse  need  not  be 
located  farther  than  eight  miles  from  the  most  remote  corner  of  the 
district.  In  a  level  section  like  this,  with  good  dirt  roads  and  no 
sand,  this  distance  is  not  too  great. 

Five  horses  and  one  automobile  were  used  to  transport  pupils 
to  District  62  on  the  day  the  school  was  inspected,  November  7th, 
The  teacher  in  District  69  reports  that  three  horses  are  driven  by 
her  pupils.  I  have  no  record  of  horses  and  autmobiles  used  to 
transport  pupils  to  the  other  schools  in  the  group,  but  enough 
horses  and  vehicles  are  used  in  these  two  districts  to  provide  trans- 
portation for  all  the  pupils  living  two  miles  or  more  from  the 
center  of  the  entire  group  of  districts. 

Should  these  districts  consolidate,  the  101  pupils  now  enrolled 
could  be  taught  by  the  four  teachers  now  enployed  at  a  cost  less 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  49 

than  that  paid  for  teachers'  salaries.  The  school  would 
cost  more  than  the  present  system,  because  of  transportation  and 
the  high  school  work  that  should  be  offered,  but  each  child  would 
get  much  more  value.  For  instance,  the  pupils  in  the  first  and 
second  grades  would  get  one-half  day  of  the  teacher's  time  and 
attention,  or  165  minutes,  as  compared  with  the  average  40  minutes 
assigned  them  on  the  daily  programs  of  these  one-teacher  schools. 
The  other  grades  would  benefit  in  the  same  proportion.  In  other 
words,  the  pupils  in  the  first  eight  grades  would  receive  about  four 
times  as  much  attention  as  it  is  possible  to  give  them  under  the 
present  plan.  If  the  present  schools  are  worth  what  they  are 
costing,  it  appears  to  me  that  a  consolidated  school  would  be  a 
real  bargain  in  this  community  even  though  it  should  cost  twice 
as  much  as  the  present  one-teacher  system. 

A  good  union  graded  school  could  be  maintained  by  this  group 
of  districts  with  a  very  slight  increase  in  the  tax  levy,  and  at  no 
cost  to  the  district  for  transportation. 


THE  SCHOOL  BUILDING   AT  JET   WHICH  BURNED   AFTER   THE   SUR- 
VEY   WAS   COMPLETED.     A  CONSOLIDATED    DISTRICT   HAS 
SINCE   BEEN    ORGANIZED,   INCLUDING    PAJRT    OF 
THE   TERRITORY  IN   GROUP  FOURTEEN. 


50 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


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ALFALFA  COUNTY 


51 


This  group  includes  seven  districts  having  a  large  area.  The 
Great  Salt  Plains  011  the  north  and  east  and  the  Salt  Fork  of  the 
Arkansas  River  on  the  north  make  it  necessary  that  Districts  49  and 
50  be  included  in  this  group.  District  65,  the  central  district,  is 
also  the  center  of  population  and  has  a  splendid  school  located  in 
Jet,  a  little  town  011  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  nine  miles  from  the 
northeast  corner  of  District  49.  The  school  building  at  Jet 
burned  recently.  A  new  building  on  a  larger  site  should  be  pro- 
vided. A  good  high  school  is  maintained  at  Jet.  In  this  high  school 
65  pupils  are  enrolled,  44  being  residents  of  surrounding  districts. 
There  are  47  non-resident  pupils  attending  the  grades  below  the 
high  school.  The  adjacent  rural  districts  are  paying  transfer  fees 
to  the  amount  of  $1,692  to  District  65  and  ,  in  addition,  parents  who 
did  not  apply  for  transfers  for  their  children  until  after  June  1st 
are  paying  tuition  to  the  amount  of  $1,000,  as  estimated  by  the 
principal  of  the  Jet  school,  making  a  total  income  of  about  $2,692 
which  District  65  collects  from  the  other  districts  nearby.  The 
bonded  indebtedness  of  District  65  requires  that  a  sinking  fund  of 
$1,182  be  raised  each  year.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  out- 
lying districts  are  paying  into  the  Jet  district  as  transfers  and  tuition 
enough,  money  to  pay  their  sinking  fund  levy  and  to  hire  two 
teachers  each  year  to  teach  the  children  enrolled  from  outside  the 
Jet  district. 

This  group  could  be  organized  into  a  consolidated  district 
or  a  union  graded  school  district,  the  latter,  perhaps,  would  be  the 
more  feasible  because  of  the  large  area.  However,  the  roads  are 
good  and  the  country  level,  with  the  exception  of  a  narrow  strip  on 
the  south,  so  transportation  of  pupils  is  not  impossible. 


MOUNT  VERXOX,    DISTRICT    XO.   66,    A    TWO-    ROOM   SCHOOL.     THIS 

DISTRICT   HAS    CONSOLIDATED    SINCE  THE   SURVEY    WAS 

MADE  AND  THIS   BUILDING    WILL  BE   ABANDONED. 


52  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


PRAIRIE   VIEW,    DISTRICT    NO.    84. 


GROUP  FIFTEEN 

The  little  town  of  Goltry  is  in  the  center  of  a  group  of  seven 
districts  that  naturally  belong  together  in  any  scheme  of  county- wide 
consolidation.  This  group  has  a  total  area  of  57  square  miles,  with  a 
taxable  valuation  of  $1,767,915,  and  an  enumeration  of  408  scholas- 
tics. The  schoolhouse  in  Goltry  is  not  more  than  nine  miles  from 
the  most  distant  corner  of  this  group.  Few,  if  any,  children  would 
be  required  to  travel  as  far  as  nine  miles  to  the  school  in  Goltry. 

This  group  of  districts  has  an  area  less  than  that  of  the  Amber 
district  in  Grady  County  and  a  higher  valuation.  The  roads  in 
this  section  are  -better  than  those  around  Amber.  There  is  no  rea- 
son why  the  children  living  on  the  farms  in  these  districts  should 
not  have  as  good  school  advantages  as  the  people  in  the  Amber  dis- 
trict have  provided  for  their  children. 

District  86,  the  Goltry  district,  has  a  splendid  new  building 
that  can  easily  be  added  to  as  the  needs  require.  This  is  the  type 
of  building  that  the  State  Department  of  Education  recommends  for 
newly  organized  consolidated  districts.  A  building  of  this  type  can 
be  added  to  without  much  expense  and  without  destroying  the  archi- 
tectural unity. 

A  good  consolidated  school  or  a  strong  union  graded  school 
r>"-n  "ho  maintained  by  this  group  of  districts.  (See  map  of  Alfalfa 


ALFALFA  COUNTY 


53 


THE  GOLTRY   SCHOOL  BUILDING,   FRONT  AND  REAR  VIEW. 

GROUP  SIXTEEN. 

District  Xo.  80,  Green  Plain. 

District  No.  81,  Enterprise. 

District  No.  82. 

District  No.  88,  Prairie  View. 

District  No.  89,  Helena. 

District  No.  90,  Timber  View. 

District  No.  101.  Highland. 

This  group  of  districts  has  a  total  valuation  of  $1,514,418,  a 
population  of  344  scholastics  and  an  area  of  approximately  51 
square  miles.  The  allowance  for  maintaining  these  schools  during 
the  current  year  is  $9,479.  Districts  88,  90  and  101  have  bonds 
outstanding,  but  there  is  more  than  enough  money  in  the  sinking 
fund  of  District  90  to  pay  its  bonds  at  maturity  and  there  will  be 
more  than  enough  to  the  credit  of  the  sinking  fund  of  District  101 
to  pay  its  bonds  at  the  close  of  the  present  fiscal  year,  while  Dis- 
trict 88  will  lack  about  $50  of  having  enough  on  hand  to  pay  off  its 


54 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


bonds  at  the  close  of  this  fiscal  year.     These  districts  are  prac- 
tically free  of  debt  at  this  time, 

District  89  has  a  splendid  school  building  worth  approximately 
$80,000.  This  was  formerly  the  Woods  County  high  school  building, 
more  recently  it  wras  used  by  the  State  as  a  district  Agricultural 
college,  and  it  now  belongs  to  the  Helena  district.  The  other 
districts  in  the  group  have  unmodern  one-room  school  buildings, 
poorly  equipped,  and  several  of  them  in  a  worn  out  and  dilapidated 
condition.  Only  one  of  these  out-lying  schoolhouses  has  a  cloak- 
room. The  equipment  consists  of  such  as  is  found  in  the  average 
one-room  rural  schools  in  Alfalfa  County. 


THE  SPLENDID  SCHOOL  BUILDING  AT  HELENA. 

High  school  work  is  done  in  the  Helena  district.  There  are 
44  non-resident  pupils  enrolled  in  the  high  school  this  year.  These 
pupils  are  charged  tuition  at  the  rate  of  $5  per  month  in  the  high 
school.  There  are  nine  pupils  from  other  districts  paying  tuition  in 
the  lower  grades  this  year.  Next  year  these  high  school  pupils 
should  be  transferred  so  as  to  relieve  their  parents  of  the  burden  of 
paying  their  tuition.  There  are  probably  several  children  living  in 
the  districts  included  in  this  group  whose  parents  are  unable  or  un- 
willing to  pay  their  tuition  and  who,  as  a  result,  are  not  in  high 
school  this  year.  The  transfer  law  offers  relief  to  such  pupils  and 
parents. 

Eight  teachers  are  employed  in  the  Helena  school  and  one  in 
each  of  the  other  six  schools  in  this  group,  making  a  total  of  fourteen 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  55 

teachers  employed  by  this  group  of  districts.  Four  teachers  in 
the  Helena  school  instruct  the  high  school  classes  and  the  other 
four  instruct  the  first  eight  grades ;  while  the  teachers  in  the  one- 
room  schools  have  an  average  of  seven  grades  each  and  an  average 
of  30  recitation  periods  per  day.  The  teacher  at  Helena  devotes 
one-half  day,  or  160  minutes,  to  the  pupils  in  the  first  grade, 
while  the  teachers  in  the  outlaying  schools  devote  an  average  of 
forty  minutes  to  the  pupils  of  the  first  grade.  In  other  words,  the 
pupils  in  the  first  grade  of  the  town  school  have  four  times  the  educa- 
tional opportunity  that  is  offered  pupils  in  the  same  grade  in  the 
other  schools  of  this  group.  Similar  comparisons  can  be  made 
for  each  of  the  other  grades. 

The  Helena  district  is  small  in  area  and  valuation  and  large  \ 
in  school  population,  as  compared  with  the  other  districts  in  this 
group,  and,  as  a  result,  is  levying  this  year  15  mills  for  general  school 
purposes.  Because  of  the  large  enrollment  in  the  school,  however,, 
it  is  educating  its  children  at  a  smaller  per  capita  cost  this  year 
than  any  other  district  in  the  group  with  the  exception  of  District 
101.  No  transfers  were  made  to  the  Helena  district  this  year 
because  it  was  not  known  that  a  high  school  would  be  maintained 
there.  Next  year  when  the  transfers  are  made,  as  they  no  doubt 
will  be,  the  per  capita  cost  of  maintaining  the  outlying  schools  will 
be  greater  in  each  instance  than  the  per  capita  cost  of  maintaining 
the  town  school. 

This  group  of  districts  illustrates  forcibly  the  fact  that  people 
living  in  the  country  can  maintain  a  better  school  than  that 
maintained  by  the  people  living  in  town,  if  they  will  pay  the 
price  that  the  town  people  are  willing  to  pay.  The  people  in 
Helena  pay  15  mills  to  maintain  their  school.  Should  these 
districts  organize  a  consolidated  district  and  levy  15  mills  there 
would  be  a  fund  sufficient  to  provide  a  school  second  to  none  in 
the  state.  But  it  would  not  be  necessary  to  levy  15  mills  in  order 
to  maintain  the  school  so  that  it  would  equal  the  best  in  the 
state.  Compare  with  the  Lambert  district  reported  in  this  survey. 

The  school  building  at  Helena  is  paid  for,  is  one  of  the  best 
buildings  in  the  state,  and  it  would  be  sufficient  for  all  purposes 
should  this  group  consolidate.  Probably  there  is  no  other  place 
in  the  state  where  consolidation  is  more  practical  than  in  this 
level  section  of  Alfalfa  County,  and  where  it  can  be  undertaken 
at  a  smaller  initial  expense.  A  good  union  graded  school  could 
be  maintained  by  this  group  at  a  cost  very  little  if  any  greater 
than  the  cost  of  the  present  schools. 


56 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  SEVENTEEN. 


District  No.  71,  Prairie  Valley. 

District  No.  72,  West  Clay. 

District  No.  78,  Sunnyside. 

District  No.  79,  Pleasant  View. 
District        District 
No.  71          No.  72 


District 
No.  78 


District 
No.  79 


Total 


Valuation $259,668.00  $192,045.00  $241,808.00  $92,572.00  $786,093.00 

Area  (sq.  mi.)  8%              10V2                    9              6%              34% 

Enumeration  50                  42                  20                21                133 
Enrollment  by  grades: 

Primary    05308 

First  70029 

Second   4                    3                    2                  2                  11 

Third   0440 

Fourth   8                   3                   3                 1                 15 

Fifth  7                   7                   2                 2                 18 

Sixth  40206 

Seventh  0                 11                   0                 1                 12 

Eighth    7                    4                   0                  3                  14 

Total  37                 37                 16               11                101 

Horses    32229 

Vehicles  21216 

No.  recitation 

periods  per  day  25 

The  four  districts  in  this  group  are  providing  no  high  school 
facilities  for  their  children.  Although  a  number  of  children  who 
have  completed  the  eighth  grade  in  these  district  schools  are 
attending  high  school  in  other  districts,  there  are,  no  doubt,  a 


PRAIRIE  VALLEY,  DISTRICT    NO.    71. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  57 


PLEASANT    VIEW.   DISTRICT   XO.   79. 

great  many  who  are  being  deprived  of  high  school  training 
because  of  the  inability  or  unwillingness  of  their  parents  to 
permit  them  to  attend  school  in  a  town  where  they  will  be  away 
from  the  restraining  and  guiding  home  influence.  , 

A  central  union  graded  or  consolidated  school  is  needed  in  this 
section,  and  these  districts  are  so  situated  that  they  belong  in 
the  same  group.  The  schoolhouses  now  used  in  these  districts 
are  in  fair  condition,  with  the  exception  of  the  one  in  District  79, 
which  is  the  poorest  school  building  in  the  county.  District  72  has  a 
bonded  indebtedness  of  $800  and  more  than  $400  in  the  sinking 
fund  with  which  to  redeem  the  bonds  at  maturity.  Three  of  the 
buildings  could  be  moved  to  a  convenient  location  near  the  center 
of  the  group  and  used  temporarily  as  a  school  plant.  The 
central  school  need  not  be  located  farther  than  six  miles  from 
the  most  remote  corner  of  the  district.  This  distance  is  not 
too  great  in  this  section  of  the  county.  Enough  horses  are  now 
driven  to  the  little  schools  by  the  children  to  furnish  transport- 
ation to  all  the  children  living  two  miles  from  the  center  of  the 
group. 

The  schools  in  this  group  were  inspected  during  November, 
1917,  but  there  is  not  sufficient  space  to  allow  a  separate 
report  of  each  school.  They  are  equipped  no  better  than  the 
average  rural  school  in  the  county.  Two  of  the  teachers  employed 
have  had  no  previous  experience  as  teachers  and  one  is  teaching 
her  second  term.  The  children  living  in  this  group  of  districts 
are  not  getting  a  square  deal  under  present  conditions. 


58 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  EIGHTEEN 

District  No.  91 

and  one  mile  strip  from  east  side  of 

District  No.  92 

District  No.  99 

District  No.  100 

This  group  has  an  approximate  valuation  of  $508,012,  a 
scholastic  population  of  about  190  and  an  area  of  29%  square  miles 
Because  of  the  fact  that  only  one-third  of  District  92  is  included 
in  this  group,  it  is  necessary  to  estimate  the  school  population  of 
that  part  of  the  district.  There  are  178  scholastics  enumerated 
in  the  three  districts  that  are  included  as  entire  districts. 

This  group  can  meet  the  requirements  for  a  consolidated 
district,  fully.  The  districts  are  level,  making  the  problem  of 
transportation  easy.  Reports  show  that  the  buildings  and  equip- 
ment in  these  districts  are  no  better  thau  the  average  buildings  and 
equipment  in  the  rural  districts  in  the  county.  A  consolidated 
school  building  can  be  located  in  this  proposed  district  at  a  point 
where  it  will  not  be  more  than  six  miles  from  the  remotest  corner  of 
the  group.  Districts  91.  92  and  100  have  outstanding  bonds,  but 
there  is  almost  enough  money  to  the  credit  of  the  sinking  fund 
of  each  district  to  pay  off  the  bonds  when  they  mature. 

It  is  only  a  question  of  a  few  years  before  the  people  in  these 
districts  will  demand  modern  educational  opportunities  for  their 
children.  They  should  not  make  the  mistake  of  erecting  four 
new  one-room  schools  on  the  present  sites,  but  should  consolidate. 


SCHOOL  BUILDING   AT   CARMEN. 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  59 

GROUP  NINETEEN. 

District  No.  73,    Pleasant  Ridge 

District  No.  75,    Bellview 

District  No.  77,  Carmen 

District  (part  of)  No.   93,  Eagle  Chief 

District  (part  of)  No. 94,  Fairview 

These  districts  and  parts  of  districts  are  grouped  around  the 
independent  district  of  Carmen  in  such  a  Avay  that  they  form  a 
strong  group.  District  73  will  fit  into  no  other  combination, 
unless  it  should  be  divided  between  Groups  Twelve  and  Seventeen. 
District  75  may  be  able  to  enter  a  combination  of  Districts  in 
Woods  County.  Districts  93  and  94  could  be  included  in  Group 
Twenty,  insted  of  being  divided  between  Groups  Nineten  and 
Twenty.  The  arrangement  suggested,  however,  seems  to  be  the 
most  reasonable.  Consolidation  of  this  group  can  be  effected  by 
District  77  extending  its  boundaries  to  include  all  districts  and 
parts  of  districts  in  the  group  and  providing  transportation  under 
the  law  permitting  independent  districts  to  furnish  transportation. 
Twenty-nine  pupils  have  been  regularly  transferred  to  District 
No.  77  and  fourteen  others  are  paying  tuition  in  that  district  this 
year,  making  a  total  of  43  non-resident  pupils  in  the  school  and 
showing  that  the  town  school  is  now  serving  in  a  limited  way  the 
children  residing  in  the  other  districts  of  this  group. 

District  No.  93,  Eagle  Chief,  presents  a  peculiar  problem.  All 
of  the  children  in  this  district  are  attending  the  town  schools  at 
Carmen  and  Aline.  One  boy  who  lives  in  North  Carolina  and  who 
visited  in  the  district  during  the  early  fall  attended  the  school 
four  weeks.  It  evidently  became  too  lonesome  and  he  went  back 
to  North  Carolina  leaving  the  teacher  without  any  pupils.  The 
teacher  spends  each  school  day  at  the  schoolhouse  and  the  Board 
pays  her  $60  per  month.  Her  contract  calls  for  seven  months ' 
service.  It  is  apparent  that  the  people  in  this  district  are  in  favor 
of  graded  schools  for  their  children,  as  they  have  had  them 
transferred  to  the  town  schools. 

The  schoolhouse  at  Carmen  is  not  more  than  six  and  one- 
half  miles  from  the  most  distant  corner  of  this  group  of  districts. 
The  country  is  level,  roads  and  bridges  are  in  good  condition  and 
transportation  of  the  pupils  can  be  arranged  without  difficulty. 

GROUP  TWENTY 

Parts  of  Districts  92,  93,  and  94  and  all   of  Districts  95.   96,  97, 
and  98. 

District  97.  Aline,  located  near  the  center  of  this  group 
furnishes  high  school  facilities  for  the  other  districts  and  parts 
of  districts  in  this  group,  as  shown  by  the  large  enrollment  of  non- 


60 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


resident  pupils,  both  in  high  school  and  grade  departments.  There 
are,  for  example,  34  pupils  enrolled  in  the  ninth  grade,  which  is 
the  first  year  of  the  high  school  course,  and  25  of  these  pupils  live 
in  adjoining  districts,  while  only  nine  of  them  live  in  the  Aline 
district.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  14  of  these  pupils  are  over 
the  average  age  of  ninth  grade  students,  several  of  them  being  old 
enough  for  the  twelfth  grade.  These  pupils  have  lost  several  years  of 
opportunity  from  their  school  lives  and  the  districts  in  which  they 
live  can  never  square  accounts  with  them  in  this  respect.  The 
best  that  can  be  done  by  these  little  districts  is  to  reorganize  now 
so  that  the  other  children  may  not  suffer  this  irreparable  loss  in  the 
future. 

The  Aline   district,  No.  97,   has  an  area  of  one  square   mile. 


THE    ALINE   DISTRICT    HAVING    AN   AREA   OF    ONLY    ONE    SQUARE 

MILE    MAINTAINS    THIS    SCHOOL    FOR    THE  CHILDREN 

IN    GROUP  TWENTY. 

It  is  preposterous  to  expect  a  district  of  such  restricted  area,  such 
small  valuation,  and  such  limited  school  population  to  provide  a 
strong  high  school  for  the  pupils  in  that  section  of  Alfalfa  County. 
The  fact  that  the  people  of  the  little  district  heroically  tax  them- 
selves to  the  limit  in  order  to  provide  educational  resources  for 
their  children  is  no  reason  why  they  should  be  required  to  do  so  in- 
definitely. If  the  people  living  in  the  neighboring  districts  desire 
a  strong  school  for  their  childen,  it  will  be  necessary  for  them  to 
consolidate  or  organize  a  union  graded  district  along  the  lines 
suggested  in  Group  Twenty. 

A  consolidated  district  comprising  the  territory  in  this  group 


ALFALFA  COUNTY  (Jl 

would  have  a  valuation  of  appoximately  $1,055,995,  a  scholastic 
population  of  approximately  332  and  an  area  of  38  square  miles. 
The  southwest  corner  of  this  district  is  not  more  than  eight  miles 
from  the  school  house  at  Aline.  This  is  the  greatest  distance  any 
person  in  the  district  would  be  from  school.  Inasmuch  as  the 
roads  are  good  and  being  made  better  each  year,  this  is  not  an 
unreasonable  distance.  Transportation  of  pupils  c,an  be  managed 
easily  in  this  section. 

No  pupils  were  attending  the  school  in  District  93  at  the 
time  the  inspection  was  made  November  9th.  Only  one  had 
enrolled  during  the  year  and  he  had  gone  back  to  his  home  in 
North  Carolina,  after  remaining  four  weeks  in  this  school.  No 
other  child  was  expected  to  enroll  in  this  school  during  the  school 
term,  as  all  children  living  in  the  district  were  attending  the 
schools  at  Aline  and  Carmen.  Eighteen  pupils  were  enrolled  in 
the  Fairview  school,  District  No.  94,  and  five  horses  were  being 
used  to  transport  these  children  to"  that  little  inefficient  and 
poorly  equipped  school.  Two  of  these  horses  could  easily  trans- 
port all  the  children  in  the  district  to  a  good  graded  school  at 
Aline. 

People  in  this  group  of  districts  and  in  other  groups,  including 
small  towns  such  as  Helena,  Jet  and  Goltry,  must  soon  awaken  to  a 
realization  of  the  fact  that  the  little  toAvn  districts  cannot  by  them 
selves  provide  schools  of  such  strength  and  character  as  the  rural 
boys  and  girls  need.  When  this  is  realized  fully  the  people 
will  join  together  hi  a  neighborly  way  and  provide  a  good  school 
for  all  the  children  in  the  community. 


62 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GRADY  COUNTY 


This  county,  located  in  the  central  section  of  the  state,  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Canadian  County,  on  the  east  by 
McClain  and  Garvin  Counties,  011  the  south  by  Stephens  County 
and  on  the  west  by  Commanche  and  Caddo  Counties.  The  Ca- 
nadian River  forms  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary  .  The  county 
is  forty-eight  miles  long  from  north  to  south  and  twenty-four 
miles  wide  from  east  to  west.  It  has  an  area  of  approximately 
1,107  square  miles  including  excellent  farming  and  grazing  land. 

The  western  one-fourth  of  Grady  County  was  formerly  a  part 
of  Oklahoma  Territory,  while  the  eastern  three-fourths  was  a 
part  of  Indian  Territory.  Therefore,  the  school  districts  in  the 
western  tier  of  toAvnships  were  organized  prior  to  1907  and  those 


,  GIRLS'   BASKETBALL    TEAM,   AMBER   CONSOLIDATED    DISTRICT. 

in  the  eastern  part  were  organized  after  Oklahoma  became  a  state 
in  November,  1907. 

The  population  of  the  county  as  shown  by  the  federal  census  of 
1910  was  30,309  consisting  of  27,695  Whites,  882  Indians  and  others, 
and  1,731  Negroes.  This  has  increased  no  doubt  since  that  time. 
Because  of  the  negro  population,  it  is  necessary  to  maintain 
seperate  schools  in  six  of  the  school  districts. 

The  northern  half  of  the  county  consists  of  level  and  rolling 
prairie  land  varied  here  and  there  with  level  creek  and  river 
bottoms.  The  southern  part  has  considerable  sand  and  black- 
jacks. As  a  rule,  the  roads  are  better  in  the  northern  part  than 
in  the  southern  section. 


GRADY  COUNTY 


63 


BOYS'    BASKETBALL    TEAM,    AMBER   CONSOLIDATED    DISTRICT. 

The  \Vashita  River  meanders  across  the  county  pursuing  a 
southeasterly  direction.  There  are  numerous  creeks  tributary 
to  this  river  and  the  Canadian  River  on  the  north. 

The  county  is  traversed  by  three  railroad  systems  and  their 
branch  lines  radiating  from  Chickasha,  the  principal  town,  county 
seat  and  railroad  center.  The  main  line  of  the  Chicage,  Rock 
Island  and  Pacific  (Rock  Island)  Rail  wan  crosses  the  county  from 
north  to  south  while  branches  of  this  system  run  west  and  southeast 
from  Chickasha.  The  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco  (Frisco) 


SENIOR    CLASS    AMBER   CONSOLIDATED   SCHOOL. 


64 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


Railway  crosses  the  county  and  a  branch  line  of  the  Santa  Fe 
tends  from  Chickasha  in  a  southeasterly  direction  to  the  point  where 
it  enters  McClain  County.  The  following  towns  and  villages  are 
located  on  these  railroads:  Alex,  Amber,  Bradley,  Chickasha, 
Laverty,  Middleburg,  Minco,  Ninnekah,  Norge,  Pocasset,  Rush 
Springs,  Tuttle  and  Verden.  Bailey  and  Acme  are  little  inland 
towns  not  located  on  a  railroad. 

Grady  County  is  strictly  an  agricultural  county.  Cotton, 
grain,  hay  and  livestock  are  the  principal  products. 

The  total  valuation  of  all  the  property  in  the  county  is  $22,919,- 
693. 

School  Organization. 

Grady  County  is  divided  into  95  school  districts.  There  are 
287  school  district  officers.  Thirty  five  of  these  districts  employ 


TYPE    OF  SCHOOL  WAGONS    USED  AT  NINNEKAH. 

two  teachers,  forty-eight  employ  only  one  teacher,  one  employs 
three  and  eleven  employ  five  or  more  teachers.  These  latter  are 
city,  town,  village  and  consolidated  schools.  In  48  of  the  95  school 
districts  no  work  above  the  eighth  grade  is  attempted. 

The  enumeration  of  scholastics  in  the  county  January,  1917, 
was  11,782,  and  the  enrollment  in  the  schools  during  the  year  clos- 
ing June  30,  1917,  was  11,059  and  the  average  daily  attendance 
during  the  same  school  year  was  6,554. 

The  enrollment  in  the  graded  schools  of  consolidated,  village 
and  town  districts  was  5,802  for  the  year  closing  June  30,  1917,  and 


GRADY  COUNTY  65 

the  average  attendance  was  3,730  while  the  ungraded  rural 
schools  had  an  enrollment  of  5,257  for  the  same  period  and  an 
average  daily  attendance  of  2,824. 

During  the  school  year  closing  June  30,  1917,  the  consolidated, 
village,  town  and  city  districts  spent  $109,125.21  to  provide  schools 
for  the  5,802  pupils  enrolled,  while  the  rural  districts  spent 
$72,045.52  to  provide  schools  for  the  5,257  children  enrolled  in 
these  districts.  In  other  words  and  figures,  the  districts  having 
graded  schools  spent  $18.80  for  each  person  enrolled  while  the 
rural  districts  having  the  ungraded  schools  spent  $13.70  for  each 
pupil,  a  difference  of  $5.10  in  favor  of  each  child  attending  a 
graded  school. 

The  average  length  of  the  school  term  during  the  school  year 
closing  June  30.  1917,  was  as  follows : 

Independent  districts  9  months, 

Village   districts  8  4-7  months, 

Rural  districts  7  5-8  months. 

El  Met  a  Bond  College,  a  private  institution,  and  the  Oklahoma 


A  REPUBLIC    TRUCK    USED    FOR    TRANSPORTING1  PUPILS   TO 
THE  AMBER  SCHOOL. 

Woman's    College    maintained   by   the    state    are    located   in    this 
county.      They  are  not  included  in  this  survey,  however. 

The  rate  of  taxation  in  districts  employing  three  teachers  or 
more  are  as  follows: 

Town    No.  Teachers   Rate  of  Enum- 
Levy  mills  eration 

Consolidated  District   No.    28,  Amber  10  10.7  384 

Consolidated  District  No.  51,  Ninnekah  9  15.  351 

Union  Graded  District  No.  131,  Norge  5  9. 

District  Number   I/ Chickasha  ...  ..  60  8.7          3216 


66  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

District  Number  56,  Alex 7  11.6  277 

District  Number  63,  Bradley  6  13.  230 

District  Number  11,  Acme   3              7.  79 

District   Number  2,   Minco  8              6.8  266 

District  Number  26,  Pocasset  5              8.  152 

District  No.  68,  Rush  Springs 12              8.8  385 

District  Number  3,  Tuttle  9  11.  324 

District  Number  130,  Verden  7  12.3  284 

The  levies  in  schools  employing  one  and  two  teachers  vary 
from  2  to  15  mills. 

The  county  has  only  one  city  school,  eight  town  and  village 
schools,  two  consolidated  schools,  one  union  graded  school  and 
39  schools  in  which  two  teachers  are  employed.  In  all  of  these 
two-teacher  districts  some  high  school  work  is  offered.  Therefore, 
consolidation  has  proceeded  farther  in  this  county  than  in 
either  Alfalfa  or  Wagoner  County  and  high  school  work  is  available 
for  more  children  here  than  in  many  other  counties. 

As  shown  by  the  illustrations,  the  school  buildings  are  of  the 
conventional  type,  lighted  on  two  sides  and  in  many  cases  not 
provided  with  cloakrooms.  They  are  better  equipped  as  a  rule 
than  the  schools  in  the  other  counties,  however.  This  is  probably 
due  in  a  large  measure  to  the  efforts  of  Supt.  Shephard  in  attempt- 
ing to  standardize  his  rural  schools. 

During  the  month  of  October,  I  spent  three  days  visiting 
schools  in  Grady  County.  I  was  accompanied  at  this  time  by 
Dr.  J.  C.  Muerman  of  the  National  Bureau  of  Education,  by  State 
Superintendent  R.  H.  Wilson  who  was  the  first  county  superin- 
tendent of  Grady  County  and  by  County  Superintendent  M.  H. 
Shepard.  One  week  during  February  and  two  days  during 
March  were  spent  inspecting  the  schools  in  all  parts  of  the  county 
and  looking  up  statistical  information  in  the  office  of  the  county 
superintendent.  Superintendent  Shepard  has  on  file  in  his 
office  information  such  as  I  was  seeking  with  respect  to  each 
school  district,  so  it  was  not  necessary  to  visit  all  of  his  schools  in 
order  to  get  a  general  idea  of  conditions.  Inspections  were  made 
of  five  one-teacher  schools,  eleven  two-teacher  schools,  one  three- 
teacher  school,  two  consolidated  schools,  one  union  graded  school 
and  five  town  and  village  schools.  The  schools  inspected  are 
located  in  all  sections  of  the  county. 

SUMMARY. 

In  addition  to  the  twenty-five  schools  inspected  in  this  county, 
reports  were  received  from  fifty-six  others,  making  a  total  of 
eighty-one  schools  included  in  this  summary. 

The  schools  are  well  equipped  with  musical  instruments,  there 


GRADY  COUNTY  67 

being  53  organs,  31  victrolas,  and  18  pianos  owned  by  the  81  dis- 
tricts. 

More  than  one-half  of  the  schools  are  safeguarding  the  water 
supply  of  the  pupils,  there  being  47  sanitary  drinking  fountains 
or  water  coolers  owned  by  81  districts. 

Only  five  of  the  81  districts  report  no  U.  S.  flag. 

Ten  of  the  81  districts  have  no  large  dictionary. 

Nineteen  of  the  81  districts  have  no   globes. 

Sixty-three  of  the  81  districts  report  libraries  of  from  5  to  800 
volumes/  But  many  of  these  libraries  are  not  well  selected,  the 
books  being  too  far  advanced  for  the  pupils  enrolled  in  the  schools. 
Several  of  the  18  districts  reporting  no  libraries  have  encyclo- 
paedias. 

Twenty-two  of  the  81  districts  have  agricultural  charts.  There 
are  more  primary  reading  charts  in  the  county  than  are  usually 
found. 

The  outside  toilets  are  better  cared  for  in  this  county  than 


MODERN  OUTHOUSE  IX  RURAL  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  84,  GRADY  CO. 

in  either  Alfalfa  or  Wagoner,  due  in  large  measure  to  the 
insistence  of  Supt.  Shepard  who  demands  that  school  boards  and 
teachers  shall  maintain  sanitary  conditions  around  the  school 
premises.  A  large  number  of  these  toilets  are  provided  with 
pits  and  these  are  cared  for  in  such  a  way  as  to  keep  down  the 
odors  and  flies.  Several  are  constructed  in  such  a  way  as  to 
provide  ventilation  through  vent  pipes.  Health  conditions  in  the 
state  will  be  improved  when  the  schools  and  homes  are  provided 
with  outside  toilets  constructed  like  those  now  being  built  in 
Grady  County. 

Reports   of   individual   schools  in  Grady  County  are   omitted 


68  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

because  of  sameness  and  lack  of  space  and  time.  The  illustrations 
show  in  a  general  way  the  character  of  the  grounds  and  buildings. 
The  following  recommendations  are  based  upon  the  data 
gathered  at  the  times  these  inspections  were  made,  from  the  reports 
on  file  in  the  office  of  the  county  superintendent,  and  from 
observations  made  with  respect  to  topography  and  road  conditions 
in  all  sections  of  the  county. 


CONSOLIDATED  GROUP. 

Amber        Ninnekah  Norge 
Consolidated  Consodilated    Union 

Graded 

Dist.  28        Dist.  51  Dist.  131 

Valuation,  1917 $1,122,308.00  $899,375.00  $537,848.00 

Area(  sq.  miles)   56i/2                  40  21 

General    Levy    (mills)    8                  15  9 

Approved   Estimate  11,960.00      13,183.00  5,477.00 

Number  of  Teachers  10                    9  5 

Enumeration,   1917,   384  351 

Enrollment,  1917,   379  395 

Average  Attendance,    1917,  256  220 

Enrollment  by  Grades,  1918 

Primary  45                  50  19 

First    17                  29  8 

Second  19                 26  14 

Third  40                  $4  13 

Fourth     34                  36  7 

Fifth  12                  35  12 

Sixth  12                 37  10 

Seventh  19                  24  15 

Eighth  10                  26  11 

Ninth  19                  17  1 

Tenth  13                  15  0 

Eleventh   12                    9  0 

Twelfth  13                    4  0 

Total   265               362  110 

Length  of  term  (months)  999 

Number  of  wagons  used 6                   6  0 

*0rganized  during  June,  1917. 


GHADY  COUNTY 

GRAPY COUNTY 


69 


70 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


The  information  given  in  tabulated  form  above  may  be  used  as  a 
basis  of  comparison  by  the  people  of  each  group.  Attention  is 
called  to  the  fact  that  in  the  consolidated  districts  the  several 
grades  are  large,  consequently  there  is  more  rivalry  on  the  part 
of  the  pupils  enrolled  than  in  the  smaller  classes  of  schools 


AMBER    CONSOLIDATED    SCHOOL. 


employing  only  one  teacher  and  the  larger  number  of  teachers 
employed  makes  it  possible  for  each  grade  to  receive  more  attention 
from  the  teacher.  The  enrollment  by  grades  is  based  upon 
reports  received  by  the  county  superintendent  in  December,  1917. 
The  unior.  graded  district  was  organized  during  the  summer 


NINNEKAH  CONSOLIDATED  SCHOOL. 


GRADY  COUNTY 


71 


of  1917.  The  central  building  in  this  district  has  now  been 
completed.  This  district  is  now  prepared  to  build  a  strong  hign 
school  for  its  pupils.  The  December  enrollment  reported  above 
had  increased  materially  at  the  time  the  school  was  inspected 
during  February,  1918. 

Amber,  Ninnekah,  and  Norge  show  the  disadvantages  of 
sporadic  consolidation  as  each  of  these  three  districts  has  cut  off 
one  or  more  little  weak  districts  from  future  consolidation  to 
the  best  advantage  of  all  the  people  and  has  made  it  necessary  to 


UNION  GRADED  SCHOOL  NEAR  NORGE. 


include  them  in  groups  that  are  not  nearly  so  convenient  or 
desirable  as  the  groups  in  which  they  would  have  been  placed  by 
a  county  reorganization  plan  such  as  is  recommended.  (See  map 
of  Grady  County.) 

Under  a  county  unit  plan  of  school  administration,  it  would 
be  possible  to  rearrange  district  lines  in  such  a  way  as  to  suit 
the  present  needs  of  the  people  with  respect  to  high  school 
advantages  for  all. 


72 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  ONE. 


Dist.  116 

Dist.  117 

Area  sq.  mi. 

7% 

9 

Valuation  ...$ 

198,110.00 

$102,246.00 

Gen.  levy  (m.) 

6 

6.2 

Approved  est. 

663.00 

788.00 

No.   Teachers 

1 

1 

Enum.    1917  

44 

43 

Enrol.,   1917   

37 

34 

Av.  Att.  1917 

20 

20 

Enr.  by  grades, 

1918: 

Primary  

5 

Q 

First   

2 

4 

Second  

3 

4 

Third    

3 

3 

Fourth 

3 

5 

Fifth  

3 

0 

Sixth 

4 

4 

Seventh   

4 

1 

Eighth    

5 

1 

Ninth    

0 

0 

Tenth   

0 

0 

Eleventh  

0 

0 

Twelfth    

0 

0 

Total    

32 

22 

Length  of  term 

8 

8 

No.  of  Pupils 

Transferred  to 

other  districts 

4 

4 

Dist.  118      Dist.  119          Total 

8  7i/2  32 

$83,469.00  $112,250.00  $396,075.00 


6.6 

846.00 
1 

52 
52 
40 

0 
8 
2 
9 
8 
9 
2 
8 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 

51 
7 


8 

1,023.00 
2 

77 
77 
55 

14 
4 
5 
7 
8 
5 
3 

11 
1 
3 
0 
0 
0 

61 
9 


3,290.00 
5 

216 
200 
135 

19 

20 

14 

22 

24 

17 

13 

24 

12 

3 

0 

0 

0 

166 


12 


Bv  adding  to  this  group  the  north  half  of  Districts  124  ami 
125,  the  area  is  increased  to  approximately  40  square  miles,  the 
valuation  approaches  $500,000  and  the  enumeration  will  be  about 
250.  The  Broxton  Consolidated  District,  No.  68  Caddo  County, 
having  an  area  of  401/2  square  miles  and  a  taxable  valuation  of 
$450,000  should  be  used  as  a  basis  of  comparison  by  the  people 
living  in  this  group.  The  group  can  maintain  as  good  a  consol- 
idated school  as  that  at  Broxton.  Also  compare  this  group  with 
the  Ninnekah  district  reported  herein.  A  schoolhouse  located 
in  the  center  of  this  group  would  be  less  than  seven  miles  from 
the  most  distant  homes. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  people  living  in  this  group  of 
districts  visit  the  schools  at  Ninnekah  and  Norge  and  decide  for 
themselves  whether  they  prefer  the  union  graded  school  district 
or  the  consolidated  school.  Either  type  will  prove  far  better  tftan 
the  little  schools  now  provided  by  the  district.  A  union  graded 


THE  WING  SCHOOL  FOR  FIRST  SIX  GRADES  AND  CENTRAL.  SCHOOL 
FOR    SEVENTH,    EIGHTH   AND   HIGH    SCHOOL    GRADES, 
UNION  GRADED  DISTRICT  NO.  131. 


74  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

district  could  be  maintained  here  at  a  cost  very  little  greater  than 
that  of  the  present  schools. 

This  territory  consists  of  rolling  prairie  land  having  good 
dirt  roads  except  in  the  western  section  where  some  sand  is 
found  but  not  enough  to  make  the  transportation  of  pupils  impos- 
sible. The  children  living  on  the  farms  situated  in  this  group 
are  not  getting  a  square  deal  at  present. 

GROUP  TWO. 

Dist.  93        Dist.  94      Dist.  126      Dist.  127        Total 

Area  sq.  mi.  7%                    9                    9                7%                  33 

Valuation    $160,940.00  $139,960.00  $154,155.00  $155,223.00  $610,278.00 

Gen.  Levy  m.  8                 5.4                 7.5                 9.2 

Appvd.  Est.         1,308.00  825.00        1,145.00        1,590.00        4,868.00 

No.  teachers  ...  2                    1                    2                    2                    7 
Length  of  school 

term    mo 8877 

Enum.  1917  54                  42                  52                  65                213 

'Enr'Pmt   '17  78                  40                  51                  64                233 

Av.   Att.   1917  52                  17                  37                  39                145 
Enrollment  by  Grades,   1918 : 

Primary  10                    7                    3                    9                  29 

First  1                    76                    6                  20 

Second 41049 

Third    3                    6                    5                    4                  18 

Fourth 5                    0                    5                    5                  15 

Fifth  8                    1                    4                    5                  18 

Sixth    6                    7                    3                    3                  19 

Seventh 5                    2                    7                    7                  21 

Eighth    2                    3                    7                    1                  13 

Ninth 0011 

Tenth    50117 

Eleventh    00000 

Twelfth 00000 

Total  49                  34                  42                  46                171 

Transf.  to  other 

districts   1                    8                    0                    1                  10 

By  including  in  this  group  the  south  half  of  districts  124 
and  125  we  have  an  area  of  approximately  41  square  miles,  a  total 
valuation  slightly  in  excess  of  $700,000  and  an  enumeration  of 
about  350  scholastics.  The  center  of  the  district  is  within  less  than 
seven  miles  of  the  corners  so  that  a  central  consolidated  school 
need  not  be  located  at  an  unreasonable  distance  from  any  home. 
The  roads  in  this  section  of  the  county  are  good.  Pupils  can  be 
transported  to  a  central  school  where  they  will  have  such  ad- 


GRADY  COUNTY 


75 


vantages  as  the  Ninnekah  and  Amber  children  enjoy;  or  the  upper 
grades  can  be  consolidated  as  at  Norge. 

AH  legal  requirements  can  be  met  by  this  group  of  districts. 

TJje  records  show  that  ten  children  have  been  transferred 
from  these  to  other  districts.  The  amount  of  money  transferred 
will  be  at  least  $500.  This  amount  will  increase  from  year  to 
.year  as  transfers  become  more  common.  As  a  result,  the  tax- 
payers will  soon  pay  as  much  for  the  little  schools  now  maintained 
as  the  additional  cost  of  a  centralized  school.  First  class  school 
work  cannot  be  done  under  the  conditions  now  existing  in  these 
districts  with  the  limited  teaching  force  and  equipment  that  can 
be  afforded,  yet  the  boys  and  girls  in  the  rural  communities  are 
entitled  to  as  much  opportunity  and  as  much  training  as  are  the 
boys  and  girls  of  the  city  of  Chickasha. 


•  SCHOOL    HOUSE     AT     VERDEN.     THIS     IS      NOW     A     CONSOLIDATED 
SCHOOL,  HAVING  ORGANIZED  SINCE  THE  SURVEY  WAS   MADE. 

GROUP  THREE. 

This  group  should  consist  of  districts  13  and  130  to  which 
should  be  added  seven  square  miles  of  district  39,  five  square  miles 
of  district  10  and  one  or  more  districts  in  Caddo  County.  Because 
of  the  fact  that  part  of  this  territory  lies  in  Caddo  County  and  only 
two  entire  districts  situated  in  Grady  County  are  given,  a  detailed 
statement  of  area,  valuation,  population  and  enrollment  is  not 
given.  The  Verden  district,  No.  130,  has  a  property  valuation  in 
excess  of  $500,000;  therefore,  it  can  consolidate  with  any  of  the 
other  districts  or  parts  of  districts  included  in  the  group,  as  an 
area  of  25  square  miles  is  not  required  for  districts  having  more 
than  $500,000. 


76  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

A  new  school  building  has  been  erected  in  district  39.  This 
is  a  splendid  two-room  and  two-teacher  school.  The  olcf  building 
has  been  converted  into  a  teacherage.  It  is  very  improbable 
that  the  people  in  this  dsitrict  will  look  favorably  upon  a  consol- 
idation project  until  after  they  have  demonstrated  to  their  own 
satisfaction  that  they  cannot  maintain  as  good  school  in  their 
new  building  as  can  be  maintained  at  Verden.  Because  of  its 
location,  this  district  must  depend  upon  the  Verden  district  for 
high  school  advantages. 

District  No.  10  has  a  very  poor  school  building  with  practically 
no  equipment  except  the  furniture.  This  district  should  not 
perpetuate  the  ungraded  school  by  building  a  new  school  house, 
especially  since  it  is  located  so  conveniently  with  respect  to  both 


SCHOOL  IN    DISTRICT  NO.    10. 

Verden  and  Chickasha.  I  am  suggesting  that  the  district  be 
divided  between  Verden  and  Chickasha  districts  to  suit  the 
convenience  of  the  people. 

A  good  school  is  now  maintained  by  the  Verden  district. 
This  district  cannot  by  itself  maintain  as  strong  a.  school  as  the 
pupils  in  the  adjoining  districts  are  entitled  to  have.  Only  by  enlarg- 
ing the  district  through  the  organization  of  a  union  graded  or  con- 
solidated district  can  the  people  in  these  rural  districts  guarantee  a 
strong  school  for  their  children. 

The  roads  in  this  section  of  the  county  are  very  good.  Trans- 
portation of  pupils  will  not  prove  burdensome.  The  valuation  of 
the  proposed  district  will  be  found  equal  to  or  greater  than  that 
of  the  Ninnekah  district  and  the  area  will  not  be  so  great.  A 
consolidated  district  is  recommended  for  this  group  but  a  union 
graded  district  will  prove  much  better  than  the  present  arrange- 


GRADY  COUNTY  77 

ment  under  which  no  standard  high  school  advantages  can  be 
offered  the  boys  and  girls  living  in  these  little  rural  districts  and  at- 
tending the  one  and  two-room  schools. 

GROUP  FOUR. 

Dist.  43        Dist.  44        Dist.  79        Total 

Area  (sq.  miles)  6*4                6%                2%                  15 

Valuation    $103,696.00  $163,290.00     $79,150.00  $346,136.00 

General  Levy  (mills) 9.5                    7                 4.3 

Approved  estimate 1,132.00        1,424.00  530.00        3,086.00 

No.  of  Teachers  1214 

Enumeration,    1917    80                  81                  41                202 

Enrollment,  1917  76                  64                  35                175 

Average  Attendance,  1917  38                  40                  18                  96 
Enrollment  by  Grades,  1918: 

Primary   * 8                     6                     0                   14 

First   3                    4                    7                  14 

Second   6                    6                    4                  16 

Third    6                    7                    9                  22 

Fourth   7                    7                    3                   17 

Fifth  „ 7                    2                    6                  15 

Sixth    3238 

Seventh    3                    4                    5                  12 

Eighth 2                    5                    2                    9 

Ninth    0303 

Tenth    0000 

Eleventh    0000 

Twelfth    000 

Total   45                  46                  39                 130 

Length  of  Term  787 

No.  Pupils  Transferred  to 

Other  Districts   3                  10                    0                  13 

No.  Pupils  Transferred  to 

this  District   0                    0                  10                  10 

By  adding  to  this  group  three  square  miles  now  in  district  39. 
the  area,  valuation  and  school  population  would  be  increased 
somewhat.  This  group  does  not  have  sufficient  area  to  organize 
a  consolidated  district  but  it  could  maintain  a  strong  union  graded 
school  such  as  is  maintained  at  Norge. 

By  joining  with  one  or  two  districts  in  Caddo  County, 
however,  a  consolidated  district  may  be  organized. 


78 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  FIVE. 


Dist.  75      Dist.  76 
Area,  sq.  m.  7%  10% 

Valuation    $100,630.00  $134,650.00 


Dist. 


Gen.  levy  m. 
Approved  est. 
No.  Teachers 

Emun.  1917 

Enr.,  1917  

Av.  Att.,  1917 


2  8 

600.00 
1 

70 
50 
32 


8.4 

1,460.00 

2 

79 

52 

40 


77      Dist.  78 

41/2  81/2 

$82,650.00  $104,100.00 


9.1 

877.00 
1 

70 
53 
23 


10 

1,680.00 

2 

53 

50 

24 


Enrollment  by  Grades,  1918 : 

Primary  7  11  5  5 

First  4553 

Second   4933 

Third   4  5  10  0 

Fourth  4  8  13  0 

Fifth  3648 

Sixth   2  5  14  6 

Seventh    4483 

Eighth   0035 

Ninth   2000 

Tenth   0000 

Eleventh  0000 

Twelfth    0000 

Total  34  53  65  33 

Pupils  Transferred 

to  other   dist.  0  10  6  0 

This  group    includes    the  four    districts  located    in    Chandler 

township.        Territory    in  Caddo   County  belonging    to    districts 

77  and  78  should  be  included  in  the  total  area. 


Total 

31 
$422,030.00 

4,617.00 
6 

272 
205 
119 

28 
17 
19 
19 
25 
21 
27 
19 
8 
2 
0 
0 
o 

185 


16 


NEW    TWO-ROOM    BUILDING    IN  DISTRICT  NO.    78,    DUE  TO    THE   IN- 
FLUENCE   OF   THE    NORGE  UNION  GRADED    DISTRICT. 


GRADY  COUNTY 


79 


A  union  graded  school  is  recommended  for  this  group  at  this 
time.  This  may  be  changed  into  a  consolidated  school  later  as 
the  roads  are  improved  and  the  valuation  increased.  However, 
consolidation  would  not  be  impracticable  now,  but  it  would  be 
more  burdensome  than  a  union  graded  school. 


Area    (sq.    miles) 

Valuation  „ 

General    Levy   (mills)   

Approved   Estimate   

Number  of  Teachers 

Enumeration,    1917  

Enrollment,    1917   

Av.  Attendance,    1917 


GROUP  SIX. 

Dist.  8        Dist.  20 
61/4  7i/2 

.$  76,200.00  $117,450.00 


15 

1,323.00 

2 

68 

49 

47 


5 

971.00 
2 

103 
68 
44 


Dist.  25        Total 

7V2  2iy4 

$95,345.00  $288,995.00 

3.1 
650.00 


1 

63 
59 

27 


2,844.00 
5 

234 
176 
118 


SCHOOL   IN    DISTRICT  NO.    20. 

This  group  of  districts  is  eight  miles  long  and  two  and  one- 
half  miles  wide.  A  school  can  be  located  near  the  center  of  the 
group  in  such  position  that  is  will  be  not  more  than  five  and  one- 
half  miles  from  any  corner  of  the  larger  district.  The  roads  in 
this  section  of  the  county  are  not  good  enough  at  this  time  to 
make  consolidation  advisable  but  a  good  union  graded  school  could 
be  maintained  by  this  group  at  a  cost  not  greatly  in  excess  of  the 
cost  of  the  present  schools.  This  group  of  districts  is  rich  in  the 
number  of  children  enumerated.  Better  educational  opportunities 
should  be  provided  for  them.  As  the  country  develops  and  the 
roads  are  improved,  it  may  be  thought  best  later  to  consolidate 
Group  Six  with  Group  Seven.  Buildings  provided  for  the  union 


80  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

graded  districts  should  be  erected  with  this  prospect  in  mind.  A 
good  central  school  would  contribute  more  to  the  developement  of 
this  part  of  the  county  and  to  the  improvement  of  the  roads  than 
any  other  enterprise  that  might  be  established. 

GROUP  SEVEN. 

Dist.  7        Dist.  11        Dist  19        Total 

Area  (sq.  miles)  7%                    9                    9              25% 

Valuation    $  91,290.00  $184,262.00  $115,350.00  $390,902.00 

General  Levy  ,mills)  12                    7                 5.4 

Approved    Estimate  1,179.00        1,750.00        1,034.00        3,963.00 

Number  of  Teachers  2327 

Enumeration,  1917 73                135                114                322 

Enrollment,  1917  35                139                103                277 

Av.  Attendance,  1917  21                  55                  94                170 

Enrollment  by   Grades,  1918: 

Primary  6                    7                  16                  39 

First  2529 

Second 6                    8                    4                  18 

Third   6                  22                  16                  44 

Fourth    5                    7                    3                  15 

Fifth  7                  15                    8                  30 

Sixth  8                    0                  11                  19 

Seventh   5                  20                    2                  27 

Eighth   : 1                  12                    1                  14 

Ninth   2619 

Tenth   0202 

Eleventh 0000 

Twelfth    _ 0000 

Total    48                114                  64                226 

Transferred  to  other  dist.  6028 

This  group  would  form  a  long  narrow  district  having  the 
three  room  building  now  used  by  the  Acme  district,  Number  11, 
near  the  center.  By  adding  one  additional  room  and  one  addit- 
ional teacher,  a  very  good  union  graded  school  can  be  maintained 
at  Acme  during  one  or  two  years  and  until  the  high  school  grows. 
By  leaving  two  teachers  at  the  schoolhouse?  hi  districts  7  and  19 
to  teach  the  first  six  grades,  a  well  graded  system  may  be  ap- 
proximated for  each  of  these  two  districts.  The  roads  in  this 
group  are  not  good  enough  at  this  time  to  warrant  consolidation ; 
therefore,  a  union  graded  district  is  recommended  here.  It  may 
prove  practical  to  consolidate  Groups  Six  and  Seven  later. 

At  present  the  cost  of  the  union  graded  school  would  be 
very  little  more  than  that  of  the  present  schools.  As  the  high 


GRADY  COUNTY 


81 


school  grows  in  number  of  pupils  and  grades,  the  cost  \vill  be 
increased.      But  at  no  time  need  the  cost  prove  burdensome. 

These  districts  are  so  situated  as  to  make  it  very  easy  to 
provide  as  good  a  school  for  the  children  living  in  the  group  as  has 
been  provided  for  the  children  living  near  Xorge. 


THREE-ROOM  SCHOOL  IX    DISTRICT  NO. 


TWO -ROOM  BUILDING  IX  DISTRICT   XO.    7. 


82 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  EIGHT 


Area  (sq.  miles)  

Valuation    

General  Levy  (mills)  

Approved  Estimate   

Number  of  Teachers  

Enumeration,  1917  

Enrollment,  1917  

Av.  Attendance,  1917  .... 
Enrollment  by  Grades, 

Primary  

First 

Sec  ond 

Third 

Fourth   

Fifth   

Sixth  

Seventh    

Eighth   

Ninth    

Tenth    

Eleventh    

Twelfth 
Total 


Dist.  24 

12 

...$143,090.00 
7 

...      1,400.00 
2 

140 

121 

55 


Dist.  83        Dist.  84        Total 

ioy2         ioy2  33 

$67,385.00  $244,972.00  $455,447.00 


'18 


4 
6 
6 

10 
1 
4 
4 
5 
3 
0 
0 
0 
0 

43 


9 
763.00 

2 

68 
62 
33 

0 
12 

3 
6 
7 
6 
6 
2 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
47 


5 
1,650.00 

2 

78 
91 

72 

5 
9 

11 
12 

8 
6 
4 
8 
6 
6 
0 
0 
0 
75 


4,113.00 
6 

286 
274 
160 

9 

27 

20 

28 

16 

16 

14 

15 

14 

6 

0 

0 

0 

165 


STOVER,  DISTRICT  NO.  84. 


THIS  IS  NOW  PART  OF  A  UNION  GRADED 
DISTRICT. 


This  group  is  ten  miles  long  by  three  and  one-half  miles  wide. 
A  union  graded  school  located  near  the  center  of  the  group  would 
be  not  more  than  six  miles  from  any  corner.  At  present  the 


GRADY  COUNTY  83 

condition  of  the  roads  is  not  such  that  consolidation  is  not  recom- 
mended, although  it  would  not  be  impracticable  to  transport  pupils 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  district.  A  union  graded  school 
should  be  established  in  this  group.  The  valuation  and  enrollment 
is  such  that  a  strong  central  school  can  be  maintained  here.  The 
boys  and  girls  are  entitled  to  the  best. 

GROUP  NINE 

This  group  consists  of  districts  2  and  90  and  parts  of  districts 
4,  5,  14  and  ]5.  District  2,  Minco,  has  already  established  a  good 
high  school.  Inasmuch  as  only  two  entire  districts  are  included  in 
this  group  with  parts  of  three  others,  no  detailed  information  with 
respect  to  valuation  and  enumeration  has  been  worked  out.  The 


SCHOOL  IX  DISTRICT    NO.   24. 

area  of  the  proposed  district,  however,  is  less  than  that  of  the  Amber 
Consolidated  District  and  the  valuation  is  greater.  Under  such 
circumstances,  this  group  should  be  able  to  maintain  a  better 
school  than  that  now  maintained  at  Amber,  on  a  smaller  rate  of 
taxation  and  at  less  inconvenience.  The  pupils  now  living  in 
the  Minco  district  have  the  advantage  of  a  good  graded  school. 
That  district  would  gain  very  little  by  consolidation  but  the  adjacent 
rural  districts  would  profit  greatly  by  uniting  with  Minco  and 
securing  the  advantage  of  the  graded  school  already  established. 
Should  this  group  consolidate,  a  larger  school  site  should  be  pro- 
vided in  order  that  the  pupils  in  the  school  might  have  practical 
work  in  Manual  Training,  Domestic  Science,  and  Agriculture. 

The  firm  dirt  roads  in  this  part  of  the  county  are  so  good 
that  consolidation  is  not  only  practical  but  eminently  desirable. 

District  15  is  so  situated  that  it  should  be  divided  among  the 
Minco,  Poc asset,  Tuttle  and  Amber  Groups. 


84 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  TEN. 

(Now  a  Union  Graded  District.) 

This  group  is  composed  of  district  26,  Pocasset,  the  south 
half  of  district  14  and  the  southwest  fourth  of  district  15.  The 
taxable  valuation  is  approximately  $700,000  and  the  area  is  ap- 
proximately 29  square  miles.  The  splendid  roads  in  this  part  of 
the  county  make  consolidation  entirely  feasible.  Should  this 
group  consolidate,  it  would  probably  be  well  to  rearrange  that 
part  of  the  boundary  of  the  Amber  district  in  Pocasset  township 
to  enlarge  this  group  by  including  in  it  the  territory  lying  nearer 
to  Pocasset  than  to  Amber. 


SCHOOL  BUILDING    AT  MINCO. 


GROUP  ELEVEN. 

(Now  a  Union  Graded  District.) 

Dist.  36  Dist.  89         Dist.  92         Total 

Area    (sq.  miles)    1634  61/4              12%               35% 

Valuation    $334,483.00  $  48,720.00  $129,155.00  $532,358.00 

General  Levy,    (mills)    276 

Approved  Estimate  1,814.00  376.00           737.00        2,927.00 

Number  of  Teachers  2  1                    14 

Enumeration,    1917,    61  27                  31                119 

Enrollment,  1917, 48  31                  35                114 

Av.   Attendance,  1917   30  22                  20                  72 


GRADY  COUNTY  85 

Enrollment  by  Grades,  1918 : 

Primary  - 5                    5                    2                  12 

First   2417 

Second   3328 

Third    0336 

Fourth 3306 

Fifth  3                    5                  10                  18 

Sixth  3508 

Seventh    4217 

Eighth    5229 

Ninth 6017 

Tenth  1001 

Eleventh    0000 

Twelfth 0000 

Total   35                  32                  22                  89 

This  group  of  districts  can  maintain  a  good  union  graded 
high  school  or  a  consolidated  school  on  its  valuation.  Unless  high 
school  facilities  are  provided  for  the  boys  and  girls  in  these  districts, 
many  of  them  will  seek  transfers  to  the  Chickasha  high  school.. 
As  the  number  of  transferred  pupils  increases  from  year  to  year 
the  transfer  fees  will  ultimately  amount  to  as  much  as  the  extra 
cost  of  a  good  union  high  school.  By  establishing  a  union  graded 
school  somewhere  near  the  center  of  this  group,  the  boy  and  girl 
living  in  the  northwest  corner  too  far  away  to  drive  to  Chickasha  or 
Verden  each  day  and  unable  to  pay  board  in  town  will  be  provided 
for.  Also  the  people  who  patronize  the  school  will  own  it  and 
be  in  a  position  to  dictate  the  course  of  study  which  their  children 
are  to  take.  A  strong  course  in  Agriculture  and  related  subjects 
should  be  offered  in  this  school. 

GROUP  TWELVE. 

The  city  of  Chickasha  maintains  a  most  excellent  school  with 
a  large  enrollment  from  adjacent  districts.  The  boundaries  of 
this  district  should  be  enlarged  so  as  to  include  that  part  of 
District  No.  10  which  is  nearer  to  Chickasha  than  to  Verden. 

The  public  schools  of  the  city  of  Chickasha  rank  among  the 
best  in  the  state.  One  progressive  feature  of  this  school  system  is 
the  junior  high  school  department  in  which  pupils  of  the  seventh, 
eighth  and  ninth  grades  are  enrolled.  A  splendid  new  building 
has  been  erected  and  set  aside  for  the  use  of  the  junior  high  school. 
The  tenth,  eleventh,  and  twelfth  grades  occupy  the  old  high  school 
building. 

The  Chickasha  high  school  offers  the  normal  training  course 
and  in  this  way  influences  the  rural  education  of  Grady  County. 
This  high  school  is  fully  accredited. 


86  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

District  No.  1,  Chickasha,  employs  sixty  teachers  and  has 
seven  buildings.  The  rate  of  levy  is  8.7  mills  for  general  purposes 
on  a  vaulation  of  $8,079,521. 

This  district  is  spending  $30.68  per  capita  for  the  education 
of  its  children,  the  approved  estimate  being  $68,735  and  the 
enrollment  in  the  schools  being  2,240.  The  junior  high  school 
has  enrolled  411  pupils  in  the  seventh  and  eighth  grades.  There 
are  317  enrolled  in  the  ninth,  tenth,  eleventh  and  twelfth  grades; 
about  25  of  these  latter  live  in  other  districts.  There  are  28 
teachers  employed  in  the  high  schools,  14  in  the  Junior  and  14  in 
the  Senior. 

GROUP  THIRTEEN. 

This  group  c.onsist^  of  District  58,  the  north  half  of  Districts 
12  and  59,  the  northwest  one-fourth  of  District  60  and  the  western 
part  of  District  57.  Since  the  group  is  composed  largely  of 
fractional  parts  of  districts,  no  attempt  is  made  to  give  in  detail 
statistics  of  enumeration,  area,  valuation,  etc.  There  is  considerable 
sand  in  this  section  of  the  county;  therefore,  consolidation  is  not 
recommended  for  this  district  for  the  present.  However,  the  territory 
should  be  re-districted  to  suit  the  present  needs  and  a  union 
graded  school  composed  of  the  new  districts  should  be  organized 
in  order  that  the  children  in  this  group  may  have  such  school 
advantages  as  they  need. 

GROUP  FOURTEEN. 

This  group  consists  of  Districts  68  and  69,  the  south  half  of 
Districts  12  and  59,  the  southwest  fourth  of  District  50,  and  the  west 
half  of  Disti'icts  98  and  70.  Because  of  the  fact  that  this  group  is 
composed  largely  of  fractional  parts  of  districts,  no  detailed  statis- 
tics are  given.  There  is  too  much  sand  in  the  roads  in  this  section 
to  make  consolidation  advisable  here  at  present,  but  a  union  graded 
school  established  at  Bush  Springs  would  provide  educational 
facilities  far  superior  to  those  enjoyed  by  pupils  in  the  little  rural 
schools  at  present. 

GROUP  FIFTEEN 

Dist.  3  Dist,  6  Dist.  16  Dist.  91  Total 

Area  sq.    m.             12V2  11  9  5V2  38 

Valuation  $591,078.00  $150,723.00  $109,896.00  $155,932.00  1,007,629.00 

Gen.  levy  m.                 11  3.9  6  3.6 

ApVd  Est.        7,613.00  813.00  752.00  847.00  10,025.00 

No.  Teachers                  9  1  1  1  12 

Enum.,    1917               324  65  32  46  467 

Enr.,    1917  364  46  17  47  474 

Av.  Att.  1917             259  29  9  21  318 


GRADY  COUNTY 


87 


Enrollment  by  Grades,  1918: 


First 
Second 

Third  

Fourth  

Fifth    

Sixth   

Seventh  

Eighth  

Ninth  

Tenth  

Eleventh  

Twelfth  

Total  , 


39 

34 

38 

27 

40 

22 

33 

21 

10 

15 

6 

6 

291 


18 
6 

14 

14 
8 
7 
2 
4 
0 
0 
0 
0 

73 


4 
3 
0 
4 
5 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
0 
21 


7 
3 
7 
4 
3 
4 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
33 


68 

46 

59 

49 

56 

35 

40 

28 

10 

15 

6 

6 

418 


This  group  is  arranged  around  the  town  of  Tuttle  where  a 
good  graded  school  has  already  been  established  by  the  people 
living  in  District  No.  3.  By  including  in  this  group  the  wet>t 
half  of  Districts  4  and  5  and  the  northeast  one-fourth  of  District  15, 
the  area  will  be  increased  to  approximately  fifty  square  miles 
and  the  valuation  will  be  increased  to  more  than  $1,000,000. 
The  school  population  will  be  increased  slightly.  Compare  this 
group  with  the  Amber  school  district. 

Should  this  group  be  organized  as  a  consolidated  school,  the 
high  school  should  be  located  on  a  site  containing  not  less  than 
ten  acres  and  the  school  should  be  made  to  serve  the  entire  district 
placing  special  emphasis  on  the  teaching  of  Agriculture. 


SCHOOL  BUILDING  AT  TUTTLE. 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


WORLEY    CREEK    DIST.   NO.    6. 

The  Worley  Creek  School,  District  b,  is  overcrowded.  One 
teacher  cannot  teach  73  pupils  successfully.  The  school  building 
is  dilapidated,  poorly  lighted  and  lacking  in  every  modern  con- 
venience. This  district  should  make  it  possible  for  its  children 
to  attend  a  good  graded  school.  Consolidation  is  their  only 
salvation. 

The  Campbell  School,  District  16,  and  the  Silver  City  School, 
District  91,  are  not  crowded  as  badly  as  the  Worley  Creek  School, 
and  the  buildings  in  these  districts  are  not  so  dilapidated.  But 
neither  of  these  schools  can  do  efficient  work  with  the  limited 
equipment  and  time  available.  Each  of  the  teachers  in  these 
two  districts  has  28  recitation  periods  per  day,  while  the  teacher 
at  Worley  Creek  has  36  daily  recitations  to  conduct.  The  time 


CAMPBELL   SCHOOL    DISTRICT    NO.    16. 


GRADY  COUNTY  89 

devoted  to  each  grade  is  necessarily  short,  ranging  from  twenty 
minutes  to  eighty  minutes  per  day.  In  a  consolidated  school  each 
grade  would  be  large  enough  to  require  the  services  of  one  teacher 
and,  therefore,  each  grade  would  receive  attention  during  330 
minutes  each  day. 

The  children  in  District  3  are  already  provided  with  a  graded 
school,  so  they  have  less  to  gain  through  consolidation  than  have 
the  children  living  in  the  adjacent  rural  schools. 

Enough  horses  were  on  the  school  grounds  the  day  the  schools 
were  inspected  to  furnish  transportation  for  all  the  children  in  the 
group  of  districts. 

Al  present  no  satisfactory  high  school  work  can  be  done  in 
the  little  rural  schools  employing  one  and  two  teachers.  The 
pupils  in  districts  adjoining  the  Tuttle  district  will  necessarily 


SILVER    CITY   SCHOOL,    DISTRICT  NO.    91. 

depend  upon  the  Tuttle  school  for  high  school  opportunities.  But 
District  3  cannot  by  itself  maintain  as  strong  a  school  as  the 
pupils  in  this  section  of  the  county  need.  Every  parent  in  this 
group  of  districts  is  or  should  be  interested  in  a  stronger  school 
for  his  children  than  can  be  had  under  present  conditions.  By 
consolidation  it  is  possible  to  have  such  a  school  as  is  needed. 

A  union  graded  school  would  be  a  decided  improvement  over 
the  present  system  but  this  would  not  provide  the  relief  needed. 
It  would  at  best  be  only  a  partial  solution.  The  conditions  here 
are  favorable  to  the  organization  of  a  consolidated  school  in 
which  all  pupils  will  be  benefited  to  the  same  extent,  and  such  is 
recommended. 


90 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


District  87 
Oak  School 


This  district  is  situated  so  that  it  does  not  fit  into  any  of  the 
groups  as  a  whole  but  can  easily  be  divided  and  distributed  among 
the  surrounding  groups,  part  going  to  the  Tuttle  group,  part  going 
to  the  Amber  district  and  part  going  to  Group  Twenty  One  on  the 
east  composed  of  Districts  17,  18,  21  and  22. 


TOP— REAR   AND    FRONT    VIEW    OF   SCHOOL   IN   DISTRICT    NO.    16— 
BOTTOM— TEACHERAGE    IN  DIST   NO.    16. 

GROUP  SIXTEEN. 

This  group,  composed  of  Districts  37  and  38  and  the  south 
half  of  District  34,  has  a  property  valuation  of  approximately 
$650,000,  an  area  of  approximately  30  square  miles  and  a  school 
population  of  about  250.  Districts  37  and  38  maintain  two  teacher 
schools  and  offer  such  high  school  work  as  can  be  done  in  schools 
of  this  type.  Only  one  teacher  is  employed  in  District  34.  It  is 


GRADY  COUNTY  91 

suggested  that  the  north  half  of  District  34  be  attached  to  the 
Amber  Consolidated  District,  but  it  would  not  be  impracticable  to 
include  all  of  this  district  in  this  group. 

This  group  of  districts  could  easily  maintain  a  good  con- 
solidated school,  as  transportation  would  not  prove  burdensome  in 
this  section  of  the  county.  Since  Districts  37  and  38  have  good 
school  buildings,  however,  it  would  probably  be  best  to  organize 
a  union  graded  district  out  of  the  territory  included  in  this  group. 
Later,  the  union  graded  school  can  be  transformed  into  a  good  con- 
solidated school.  A  school  can  be  located  in  this  group  not  more 
than  six  and  one-half  miles  from  the  farthest  home. 

GROUP  SEVENTEEN. 

This  group  consists  of  Districts  47  and  48,  having  a  combined 
area  of  28  square  miles  with  a  taxable  valuation  of  $487,796,  and 
an  enumeration  of  204  scholastics.  A  strip  one  mile  wide  should 
probably  be  detached  from  District  52  and  added  to  this  group. 
The  taxable  valuation  would  then  be  approximately  $500,000  and 
the  area  about  32  square  miles. 

Two  teachers  are  employed  in  each  of  these  two  districts  at 
present  and  two  years  of  high  school  work  is  offered  in  each 
school.  Eleven  pupils  are  enrolled  in  the  high  school  grades  and 
eleven  are  in  the  eighth  grade  in  these  two  schools,  this  being  a 
splendid  showing  for  these  rural  districts.  Next  year  there  will 
be  three  high  school  grades  in  each  school,  or  it  will  be  necessary 
to  transfer  pupils  to  districts  offering  work  in  the  eleventh  grade. 
It  is  very  evident  that  the  parents  and  pupils  in  these  two  districts 
are  progressive  and  ambitious.  They  are  to  be  commended. 

A  strong  school  can  be  maintained  by  these  two  districts  com- 
bining either  as  a  union  graded  district  or  as  a  consolidated  district. 

GROUP  EIGHTEEN. 

All  of  District  46, 

All  of  District  52 

All  of  District  52, 

One  mile  strip  from  west  side  of  District  55, 

The    east  two-thirds  of    District  57. 

This  group  of  districts  has  a  total  area  less  than  50  square 
miles  and  a  valuation  in  excess  of  $800,000.  The  scholastic 
population  of  the  proposed  district  is  approximately  475. 

The  area  of  this  group  is  rather  large  for  this  section  of  the 
county,  but  a  consolidated  district  can  be  maintained  by  the  people 
living  in  this  territory.  Compare  with  the  Amber  and  Ninnekah 
districts.  A  strong  union  graded  school  would  be  better  than  the 


&2  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

present  system  and  would  form  the  basis  of  a  future  consolidation. 
Because  of  the  fact  that  fractional  parts  of  districts  are 
included  in  this  combination,  no  detailed  statisticts  are  given. 
Persons  interested  can  secure  the  necessary  statistics  from  the 
office  of  the  county  superintendent.  By  detaching  a  strip  one 
mile  wide  from  the  north  of  District  52  and  attaching  it  to 
Group  Seventeen,  no  home  need  be  at  an  unreasoneble  distance  from 
the  consolidated  schoolhouse. 


GROUP  NINETEEN. 

All  of  Districts  60,  61  and  66, 
Parts  of  Districts  65,  71,  72  and  99. 

Because  of  the  small  valuation  and  present  condition  of 
the  roads,  this  group  of  districts  should  not  attempt  to  consolidate  at 
present.  However,  a  union  graded  school  might  be  arranged. 
Such  school  could  be  maintained  at  a  cost  very  little  greater  than 
that  of  the  present  schools. 

GROUP  TWENTY. 

All  of  Districts  81  and  82 

Parts  of  Districts  70,  71,  72  and  80, 

At  present  this  group  has  such  a  limited  valuation  that  con- 
solidation is  not  advised.  A  union  graded  high  school  is  possible, 
however,  and  should  be  provided  for  the  pupils  in  this  section 
of  the  county,  since  many  of  them  are  now  18  miles  from  the 
nearest  high  school. 

A  union  graded  district  managed  on  a  modest  scale  would  not 
entail  a  cost  very  much  greater  than  the  cost  of  the  present  schools 
in  this  group. 

The  county  superintendent  can  furnish  detailed  statistics 
concerning  this  group  of  districts  to  any  person  interested  in 
reorganization. 

District  No.   9. 

This  district  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Grady  County 
can  enter  a  combination  of  districts  in  McClain  County.  Or,  a  group 
consisting  of  Districts  6,  9,  17  and  18  could  be  formed.  It  is 
also  possible  for  this  district  to  enter  the  Tuttle  Group,  or  Group  21, 
with  which  it  is  included  on  the  map,  but  this  is  not  recommended 
on  account  of  the  distance  unless  auto-busses  are  used  to  transport 
the  children  from  this  district  to  Tuttle. 


GRADY  COUNTY  93 

GROUP  TWENTY-ONE. 

Dist.  17        Dist.  18        Dist.  21        Dist.  22        Total 

Area   sq.  m.  10V2               10%              10V2                    9              40V2 

Valuation    $  53,760.00  $  65,200.00  $  74,480.00  $  38,915.00  $238,355.00 

Gen.   levy  m  7                11.3                  10                  10               38.3 

App.  Est 443.00           883.00           877.00           441.00        2,643.00 

No.  Teachers  11215 
Length  of 

School  term  7887 

Enum.,  1917  53                  87                101                  45                286 

Enr.,    1917   55                  62                100                  44                261 

Av.  Att.,  1917  32                  42                  47                  22                143 

This  group  has  a  relatively  large  area  when  compared  to  the 
valuation.  There  is  considerable  rough  ground  in  the  southern 
part  of  this  group.  Under  the  circumstances,  consolidation  should 
not  be  undertaken  by  these  districts  at  this  time,  but  a  union  graded 
school  can  easily  be  maintained  by  them.  Only  one  pupil  is 
reported  as  doing  high  school  work  in  the  three  districts  of 
this  group,  from  which  reports  were  received.  This  is  a  very 
poor  showing. 

A  union  graded  school  located  near  the  center  of  this  group 
would  not  prove  burdensome  to  the  taxpayers  and  would  be  a  great 
incentive  to  pupils  to  complete  the  eighth  grade  and  do  high  grade 
work.  Such  a  school  would  be  worth  immeasurably  more  than 
it  would  cost. 

Districts  30  and  31. 

A  petition  praying  that  District  30  be  attached  to  the  Amber 
Consolidated  District  was  being  circulated  in  District  30  during 
March,  1918.  People  now  residing  in  District  30  but  who  formerly 
resided  in  Amber  district  were  in  charge  of  the  petition.  If  attached, 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  district  will  be  ten  or  more  miles  from  the 
Amber  school.  The  people  who  are  circulating  the  petition  realize 
that  this  is  true,  yet  they  are  very  anxious  to  get  into  the  con- 
solidated district.  This  is  one  of  the  best  arguments  that  can  be 
found  for  consolidation.  Since  Amber  is  introducing  the  auto-bus 
as  a  means  of  transportation,  this  distance  will  probably  not  be 
too  great. 

District  31  should  be  included  in  Group  Twenty-two.  Because 
of  the  roads,  pastures  and  canyons  in  this  section  of  the  county,  it 
will  be  difficult  to  include  these  districts  in  other  groups. 

GROUP  TWENTY-TWO. 

Districts  31,  32,  33,  40  and  86. 
This  group  has  an  area  of  approximately  40  square  miles  and 


94  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

a  valuation  of  $382,766.     The  scholastics  enumerated  number  only 
228. 

Because  of  the  rough  terrain,  it  is  suggested  that  a  union 
graded  district  would  be  best  for  this  group  of  districts  at  present. 
It  would  not  be  advisable  to  assume  the  obligations  of  transportation 
while  this  part  of  the  county  has  such  road  conditions  and  low 
valuation  as  it  now  has.  But  a  union  graded  district  organized 
now  may  prove  the  basis  of  a  good  consolidated  district  in  the 
future. 

GROUP  TWENTY-THREE. 

Districts  45,  53,  54  and  67. 

This  group  has  an  area  of  approximately  40  square  miles 
with  a  taxable  valuation  of  only  $243,740  and  an  enumeration 
of  346  scholastics.  The  same  conditions  are  found  here  that 
are  found  in  the  districts  included  in  Group  Twenty-two.  A  union 
graded  school  can  be  maintained  by  this  group  at  present  and 
steps  should  be  taken  to  organize  one  in  the  near  future  in  order 
that  the  large  number  of  scholastics  may  be  afforded  better  educat- 
ional advantages  than  they  can  have  under  the  present  plan  of  or- 
ganization. 

GROUP  TWENTY-FOUR. 

Districts  63  and  64  and  parts  of  55  and  56. 

The  Bradley  District,  No.  63,  was  enlarged  recently  by  the  an- 
nexation of  District  62.  The  town  of  Bradley  is  near  the  center  of 
this  group. 

The  valuation  of  taxable  property  included  in  this  group  is 
in  excess  to  $500,000,  the  enumeration  of  scholastics  is  approximately 
475  and  the  area  is  about  36  square  miles. 

This  group  of  districts  could  easily  maintain  a  good  consol- 
idated school  in  which  all  pupils  would  have  the  advantages  of 
close  gradation. 

The  pupils  in  this  group  of  districts  are  entitled  to  better 
school  than  the  Bradley  district  alone  can  maintain.  Inasmuch  as 
the  pupils  living  in  outlying  rural  districts  must  depend  upon 
Bradley  for  high  school  advantages,  it  seems  wise  for  these 
districts  to  unite  and  co-operate  in  building  a  strong  school  rather 
than  remain  as  they  are  and  maintain  several  relatively  weak  and 
inefficient  schools,  A  union  graded  school  would  afford  some 
relief,  but  consolidation  is  recommended  to  the  people  of  this 
group. 


GRADY  COUNTY  95 


GROUP  TWENTY-FIVE. 

Districts  73  and  74  and  parts  of  Districts  64,  65,  72  and  80. 

This  group  of  districts  has  a  combined  property  valuation  of 
about  $200,000  and  an  area  of  40  square  miles.  It  is  apparent 
that  a  consolidated  school  cannot  be  maintained  on  the  present 
valuation  and  with  the  present  area.  As  the  county  developes, 
however,  this  territory  will  become  a  potential  consolidated  district. 
At  present  a  union  graded  school  located  at  the  center  of  the 
group  would  be  seven  miles  from  any  corner  of  the  district  and 
would  provide  high  school  advantages  for  the  children  living  in  this 
section.  In  order  to  include  all  of  this  territory  in  the  group,  so 
that  a  union  graded  district  may  be  organized,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  readjust  the  western  boundaries. 


96  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGES  PON 


WAGONER  COUNTY 

Wagoner  County  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  Oklahoma 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Rogers  and  Mayes  Counties,  on 
the  east  by  the  Grand  River  which  forms  the  dividing  line  between 
Wagoner  and  Cherokee  Counties,  011  the  south  by  Muskogee  and 
Okmulgee  Counties,  the  Arkansas  River  forming  a  large  part  of 
the  boundary  between  Wagoner  and  Muskogee  Counties,  and  on 
the  west  by  Tulsa  County.  The  Verdigris  River  which  forms  part  of 
the  boundary  between  Rogers  and  Wagoner  Counties  flows  across 
Wagoner  County  dividing  it  into  two  parts  almost  equal  in  area, 
the  larger  part  being  west  of  the  river.  The  Arkansas  River 
meanders  across  the  southeastern  part  of  this  county  also. 

Near  these  streams  some  hills  are  foumd  and  native  timber 
thrives,  but  the  major  part  of  the  county  consists  of  rolling  and  level 
prairies  or  level  bottom  land.  As  a  rule,  the  roads  are  not  so 
good  in  those  districts  near  the  streams  as  they  are  in  districts  on 
the  prairies,  but  considerable  improvement  of  the  public  highways 
has  been  made  during  the  past  year  and  rapid  improvement  will  be 
made  henceforth,  now  that  the  people  are  thoroughly  aroused  to 
the  economic  value  and  importance  of  good  roads. 

The  principal  town  is  Wagoner,  the  county  seat  located  in  that 
part  of  the  county  between  the  Verdigris  and  Grand  Rivers.  North 
Muskogee  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county  is  a  small  village 
having  two  railroads.  Coweta  is  the  principal  or  largest  town  west 
of  the  Verdigris.  Porter,  in  the  southern  part  of  this  section,  is 
a  village  almost  as  large  as  Coweta,  and  Stone  Bluff  in  the 
southwestern  corner  of  the  county  is  a  new  town  that  has  grown 
recently  because  of  the  discovery  of  oil  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  Red  Bird  and  Tullahassee  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  are  villages  populated  principally  by  negroes. 

Two  main  lines  of  the  Katy  railroad  (M,  K,  &  T.)  cross 
this  county,  one  line  crossing  from  south  to  north  and  the  other 
from  southeast  to  northwest.  The  Iron  Mountain  (St.L.  I.  M.  & 
S.)  and  the  Missouri  Oklahoma  and  Gulf  Railroads  also  cross  the 
county  from  north  to  south.  The  Midland  Valley  Railroad  crosses  the 
southwestern  corner  of  the  county  passing  through  Stone  Bluff 
township. 

Unlike  Alfalfa  County,  Wagoner  has  a  mixed  population.  ,Tt 
was  formerly  a  part  of  Indian  Territory.  The  Federal  Census 
of  1910  credited  the  county  with  a  population  of  12,338  whites, 
987  persons  of  Indian  descent  and  8.761  colored,  or  a  total  of 
22,086.  This  population  has,  no  doubt,  increased. 

The   school    enumeration    for   1917   shows    4.292    white   and 


WAGONER  COUNTY  &7 

Indian  scholastics  and  2,608  colored  scholastics,  or  a  total  of 
6,900  educatable  children- 
Oil  and  gas  have  been  discovered  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county  around  Coweta  and  Stone  Bluff.  Some  shallow  deposits 
of  coal  are  also  found,  but  the  principal  industry  of  the  county 
is  Agriculture  and  Stockraising.  With  the  exception  of  Stone 
Bluff,  the  towns  and  villages  depend  iipon  the  farming  industry 
for  their  prosperity.  The  interests  of  the  people  living  in  ^  the 
towns  and  villages  and  those  living  on  the  farms  are  identical. 
Cotton  and  grain  are  the  principal  crops  raised  in  the  county. 

The  county  has  an  approximate  area  of  568  square  miles ;  the 
total  assessed  valuation  of  taxable  property  located  in  the  county 
is  $14,032,980. 

SCHOOL  RESOURCES 

The  school  districts  of  Wagoner  County  were  not  organized 
until  1907.  and  practically  all  of  the  rural  school  buildings  in  the 
county  were  erected  after  that  time.  As  a  result,  the  bonds  that 
were  issued  for  the  purpose  of  building  and  equipping  these 
schools  have  not  yet  been  redeemed.  The  bonds  issued  by  53  of 
the  districts  are  twenty  year  bonds  that  will  not  mature  before 
1928. 

During  December  I  inspected  33  rural  and  3  town  schools 
in  Wagoner  County  and  received  reports  from  17  rural  districts 
that  were  not  visited.  The  schools  inspected  are  located  in  all 
sections  of  the  county  and  are  attended  by  white  children.  The 
following  facts  and  figures  are  based  upon  the  inspections  and 
reports  of  these  fifty  rural  schools  visited  and  reported. 

Only  nine  of  these  schools  have  playground  equipment.  Only 
ten  of  the  buildings  have  entrance  halls  or  cloakrooms.  Nine 
of  the  fifty  schools  have  no  wells  or  source  of  water  supply ;  fifteen 
secure  drinking  water  from  open  wells  on  the  school  ground; 
twenty-one  have  wells  protected  or  closed  with  cement  curbs ;  and 
five  did  not  report  on  the  water  supply.  None  of  the  privies 
has  pits  and  only  two  districts  have  built  screens  about  these 
outhouses.  Trees  have  been  planted  on  eleven  school  sites,  the 
others  are  bare  or  have  native  trees  growing  on  them.  Nineteen 
districts  have  some  books  for  the  libraries,  but  only  five  have  books 
suitable  for  primary  pupils.  Thirteen  of  the  schools  have  some 
books  that  are  too  advanced  for  the  pupils  enrolled  in  the  schools. 
Twenty-two  districts  have  bought  expensive  charts  that  are  of  little 
use,  seventeen  of  these  districts  have  as  many  as  two  of  these  charts. 
Thirty  of  the  districts  have  a  musical  instrument,  twenty-seven 
having  organs  and  three  having  Graf  onolas  or  Victorolas.  Several 
of  the  schools  have  sets  of  reference  books,  encyclopaedias,  etc., 


98  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

sold  to  the  school  boards  by  agents,  and  no  other  library  books. 
Forty-two  of  these  schools  have  U.  S.  flags,  four  reported  no 
flags  owned  by  the  school  and  four  did  not  report  this  item.  All 
of  the  schoolhouses  are  lighted  by  windows  on  at  least  two  sides, 
while  several  have,  windows  on  all  four  sides.  In  this  respect 
there  is  not  a  modern  rural  school  building  in  the  county.  Mrs. 
Sizer,  the  county  superintendent,  reports  that  she  is  having  a 
modern  building  erected  for  one  of  the  separate  schools  in  the 
county. 

There  are  fifty-two  classes  having  only  one  pupil  each  in  the  fifty 
rural  schools  inspected  and  reported.  Seventeen  of  these  fifty 
rural  schools  have  no  pupils  enrolled  in  the  eighth  grade.  This  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  since  the  schools  are  so  poorly  equipped  and 
so  crowded  that  healthy  boys  and  girls  cannot  be  attracted  and 
held  by  them.  They  either  go  to  the  town  schools  or  drop  out 
of  school  altogether  after  they  pass  the  sixth  grade  and  the 
compulsory  education  age. 

State  Supt..  E.  H.  Wilson  in  his  address  before  the  State 
Teachers'  Association  last  November  called  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  time  has  passed  when  four  walls,  a  few  desks,  and  a 
stove  can  be  called  a  school.  Measured  by  this  modern  standard 
there  are  few  schools  in  Wagoner  County. 

There  are  65  school  districts  in  the  county.  In  49  of  them 
the  whites  are  in  the  majority  and  control  the  schools.  Negroes 
have  a  majority  in  16  of  the  districts  and  they  control  the  district 
schools  in  such  districts.  No  negroes  are  enumerated  in  12  of 
the  districts  in  the  county  and  no  whites  are  reported  in  four 
districts.  As  stated  before  only  schools  for  whites  were  inspected 
and  reported. 

During  the  school  year  of  1916-17  the  enumeration,  enrollment, 
and  attendance  by  races  were  as  follows : 

Whites        Colored         Total 

Enumeration 4292  2608  6900 

Enrollment 3798  2340"        6138 

Average  Daily  Attendance 2228  1325          3553 

There  are  127  teachers  employed  in  the  county,  not  including 
those  teaching  in  the  city  of  Wagoner  which  is  an  independent 
district.  These  teachers  hold  the  following  credentials:  two  are 
university  graduates;  nine  are  normal  school  graduates;  one 
holds  a  state  high  school  certificate ;  one  holds  a  state  primary 
certificate ;  one  holds  a  temporary  certificate  issued  by  the  state 
superintendent;  forty-five  are  holders  of  first  grade  county  certifi- 
cates ;  thirty-seven  hold  second  grade  county  certificates ;  twenty-five 
have  third  grade  county  certificates;  and  six  hold  only  temporary 
county  certificates. 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


99 


MAP    SHOWING    SUGGESTED    COMBINATIONS    OF   DISTRICTS 
IN  WAGONER  COUNTY. 


It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  problem  of 
school  betterment  in  Wagoner  County  is  more  complex  than  in 
Alfalfa  County  since  Wagoner  is  cut  up  by  large  streams,  has  a  het- 
erogeneous population  making  it  necesary  to  have  separate  schools 
for  the  races  and  has  a  cotton  crop  to  interfere  with  school  at- 
tendance. 

There  are  no  consolidated  schools  in  this  county. 

The  following  suggestions  and  reports  concerning  the  schools 


100  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

are  offered  in  hope  that  they  may  be  of  value  to  those  who  are 
striving   for   better  conditions. 

VICTORY  DISTRICT  NO.  20. 
Mrs.   Nettie   Zellner,  Teacher. 

A  well  with  cement  curb  and  pump,  a  board  fence,  a  fuel 
house,  two  new  toilets  without  screens  or  pits,  a  teeter-totter, 
and  a  one  room  schoolhouse  are  on  the  level  acre  site  in  this 
district.  No  trees  have  been  planted. 

The  school  house  has  been  painted,  has  a  very  good  foundation 
and  a  porch.  It  has  no  entrance  hall  or  cloakrooms,  or  closets 
for  storage  purpose.*  and  no  screened  clipboard  for  lunches.  It 
is  improperly  lighted  by  eight  windows  arranged  four  on  each 
side. 

The  equipment  consists  of  window  shades,  sash  curtains,  poor 
and  insufficient  blackboards  placed  too  high  from  the  floor,  double 
desks  improperly  arranged,  an  old  style  heater,  water  bucket,  case 
of  maps,  globe,  reading  chart,  agricultural  chart,  wash  basin 
and  towels,  a  flag,  seven  volumes  of  reference  works,  and  a 
dictionary  but  no  other  library  books.  This  school  has  also  about 
twenty-five  dollars  worth  of  domestic  science  equipment  consisting 
of  a  small  oil  stove,  dishes,  utensils,  cupboard  and  supplies.  Since 
there  are  no  cloakrooms,  this  domestic  science  equipment  has  been 
set  up  in  one  corner  of  the  schoolroom. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  instruct  the  twenty-eight  pupils 
enrolled.  The  teacher  has  taught  five  years  in  this  district  but 
not  consecutively.  The  pupils  are  divided  into  7  grades,  and  the 
school  is  divided  into  twenty-six  recitation  periods.  No  high  school 
work  is  offered.  One  pupil  from  this  district  is  attending  the  Ca- 
toosa  high  school.  I  was  told  that  no  pupil  from  this  school  has 
ever  completed  the  eighth  grade. 

This  district  needs  to  provide  high  school  work  for  its  pupils. 
(See  Group  One) 

CONKLIN,  DISTRICT  NO.  21 
Miss  Dollie  Harrison,  Teacher. 

This  large  school  site  slopes  gently  to  the  rear.  It  is  not 
fenced.  Two  toilets  painted,  a  coal  house  unpainted  and  in  poor 
condition,  a  well  with  cement  cover  and  the  schoolhouse  constitues 
the  improvements  that  have  been  added  to  the  site  by  the  district. 
No  trees  are  growing  on  the  school  grounds. 

The  foundation  of  the  school  house  needs  attention.  The 
building  has  been  painted.  The  entrance  hall  is  enclosed  on  three 


WAGONER  COUNTY  101 

sides  only.  There  are  no  cloakrooms,  no  closets  for  storage 
purposes  and  no  screened  cupboards  for  lunches.  The  large 
.schoolroom  is  lighted  improperly  by  twelve  windows  arranged 
six  on  each  side. 

The  equipment  consists  of  good  window  shades,  old  double 
desks  and  new  single  desks  for  pupils,  teacher's  desk  and  chair, 
good  new  recitation  benches,  an  old  style  heater  too  small  for  the 
room,  a  case  of  maps,  a  globe,  a  reading  chart,  about  twenty-five 
volumes  of  library  books  some  of  which  are  suitable  for  pupils  in  the 
school,  a  good  dictionary,  a  good  bookcase,  an  organ,  a  flag  and  a 
washbasin.  There  is  no  drinking  fountain  or  water  cooler  in  this 
school. 

The  library  furnishes  a  fine  illustration  of  the  unbalanced 
library.  There  are  thirteen  large  volumes  of  excellent  poems, 
about  one  dozen  smaller  books  for  grammar  grade  students,  and 
no  reference  books  except  an  unabridged  dictionary.  Needless 
to  say,  the  large  volumes  of  poetry  are  still  clean  showing  that 
they  have  not  been  read. 

One  teacher  instructs  the  forty  pupils  enrolled  in  the 
school  these  pupils  are  classified  in  six  grades  and  the  school  day 
is  divided  into  twenty-seven  recitation  periods.  No  high  school 
work  is  offered.  Only  fourteen  pupils  were  present  the  day  the 
school  was  inspected.  Five  horses  are  used  to  take  pupils  to  this 
school. 

(See  Group  One) 

RIDGEWAY,    DISTRICT  NO.  25 
Miss  Ethel  Ridgeway,  Teacher.  - 

The  school  site  of  this  district  is  rough.  Several  native  oak 
trees  are  growing  on  it,  a  well  without  curb  or  cover  supplies 
water  for  the  pupils,  two  poor  toilets  without  screens  or  pits,  a  poor 
fuel  house,  and  a  school  house  in  bad  condition  constitute  the 
improvements  on  the  site. 

The  school  house  was  painted  once.  It  has  a  foundation  in 
poor  condition,  two  front  doors  and  no  steps  leading  up  to  them. 
No  entrance  hall  or  cloakrooms,  and  is  improperly  lighted  by  eight 
windows  arranged  four  on  each  side.  Several  window  panes 
were  out  which  led  to  the  suggestion  that  wire  screens  should  be 
placed  on  the  outside  of  these  windows.  The  window  sills  are 
decaying  and  the  school  house  is  about  worn  out. 

There  are  no  window  shades  to  keep  out  the  glare  of  the  sun 
and  no  curtains.  The  blackboards  are  poor  and  too  high  from 


102 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


the  floor.  The  furniture  consists  of  double  desks  .for  the  pupils, 
a  good  teacher's  desk  but  no  chair,  an  old  style  heater,  a  washbasin 
and  an  old  organ  out  of  repair.  The  school  has  a  flag,  case  of 
maps  a  dictionary  in  fair  condition,  and  six  volumes  of  reference 
work.  The  school  needs  a  water  cooler,  library  books,  window 
shades,  bookcase,  framed  pictures,  sash  curtains,  domestic  science 
and  manual  training  equipment,  recitation  benches  etc.  A  new 
and  modern  building  must  be  provided  in  this  district  within  a 
few  years  unless  the  district  consolidates  with  some  of  the  adjoin- 
ing districts. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  forty-five  pupils  enrolled. 
Those  pupils  are  classified  in  eight  grades.  No  high  school  work 
is  offered.  Part  of  this  district  is  rough  and  part  is  rolling,  but 
the  roads  are  not  so  bad  but  that  they  can  be  put  into  a  state  making 
transportation  of  pupils  practical. 

(See  Group  One) 

TALONAL  DISTRICT  NO.  26 
Miss   Euth   Parker,  Teacher. 

The  improvements  on  this  one  acre  school  site  consist  of  a 
cement  covered  well,  fence,  two  poor  toilets  without  screens  or 
pits,  a  fuel  house  in  poor  condition  and  a  one-room  school  house 
without  cloakroom,  entrance  hall,  or  closets  for  storage  and  lunch 
baskets.  A  new  porch  has  been  built  recently.  The  foundation 
is  open  at  places.  This  school  room  is  improperly  lighted  by 
eight  windows  arranged  four  on  each  side. 

The  equipment  consists  of  old  window  shades,  sash  curtains, 
a  painted  plank  blackboard,  old  double  desks  and  new  single  desks, 
an  old  style  heater,  one  case  of  maps,  an  agricultural  chart,  a  poor 


SCHOOL    IN  DISTRICT    NO.    26. 


WAGONER  COUNTY  103 

dictionary,  a  bookcase  with  door  off,  two  framed  pictures,  three 
flags,  an  organ,  seven  volumes  of  reference  works  and  about  fifty 
volumes  of  library  books,  half  of  them  suitable  for  children  of  the 
age  and  advancement  of  those  enrolled  in  the  school.  The  teacher 
in  this  school  has  four  shelves  in  the  corner  of  the  room  for  lunches 
and  has  made  them  as  nearly  flytight  as  possible  by  using  mosquito 
netting. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  twenty-four  pupils 
enrolled  in  this  school.  This  teacher  is  now  serving  her  fourth 
year  in  this  district  and  the  general  organization  and  grading  of 
the  school  show  the  advantages  of  keeping  a  good  teacher  a  number 
of  years.  No  high  school  work  is  offered  in  this  school. 

Three  pupils  from  this  district  are  in  the  Broken  Arrow  high 
school  six  miles  away  and  one  pupil  who  completed  the  eighth 
grade  work  last  year  is  still  in  the  school  because  her  mother  does 
not  wish  to  send  the  child  away  from  home  to  school.  The  district 
should  furnish  high  school  training  for  its  pupils. 

(See  Group  One) 

GROUP  ONE. 

Dist,  20  Dist,  21  Dist.  25    Dist.  26.     Total 

Area    (sq.  miles)    - 9             12               9               9             39 

Valuation  „ $166.263  $136,085  $  82,729  $133,069  $518,149 

Enumeration     (whites)     27             63             80             42           212 

General  Levy  (mills)    3.4               4               5 

Approved  Estimate,  1917  1,085           860           798        1,115        3,858 

Outstanding  Bonds    1,200        1,400        1,500           500        4,600 

In   Sinking  Fund  608           474           428           233        1,743 

Number    of   Teachers  11114 

Length   of  Term   8889 

Enrollment,  1916-17    30             45             50             44           169 

Av.  Attendance,  1916-17 16             16             26             25             83 

Enrollment  by  Grades,    Dec.  1917: 

Primary    6              15               0               5             26 

First  3               5             13               1             22 

Second    7               6               3               2             18 

Third  3               8               6               3             20 

Fourth  - 12249 

Fifth   7               1             11               3             22 

Sixth   00628 

Seventh  3               3               2               2             10 

Eighth 00213 

High    School  00000 

Total  30             40             45             23           138 

Number  of  Grades  7788 

Number  of  Recitations  ...  26             27             32             35 


104  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

The  school  buildings  in  this  group  are  strictly  one-room  schools 
having  no  cloakrooms.  It  will  be  necesary  for  many  years  to 
have  one-teacher  schools  in  many  districts  in  Oklahoma,  but  it  is 
not  necessary  to  have  one-room  schools  anywhere.  The  buildings 
are  not  modern  in  any  respect  although  modern  buildings  would 
not  have  cost  any  more  money  than  these  buildings  cost  the  respect- 
ive districts  at  the  time  they  were  built 

The  area  of  39  square  miles  is  all  level  prairie  land.  The  cost 
of  transportation  in  this  group  need  not  be  great. 

No  high  school  work  is  offered  in  any  of  these  districts  and 
none  can  be  given  under  present  conditions.  Only  four  pupils 
living  in  this  territory  are  reported  as  attending  high  schools  in 
other  districts.  The  need  for  better  and  more  advanced  schools 
is  very  acute  here. 

This  group  of  districts  meets  all  the  requirements  of  the  consoli- 
dation law  in  area,  valuation  and  enrollment.  It  could  meet  the 
requirements  for  state  aid.  A  union  graded  school  would  be 
a  decided  improvement  over  present  conditions. 

The  enumeration  report  shows  that  all  of  these  districts  except 
number  21  have  some  negro  children  as  residents,  there  being 
a  total  enumeration  of  69  colored  scholastics  in  this  group.  No 
inspection  of  the  separate  schools  for  colored  was  made. 

GROUP  TWO. 

District  24,  District  36 

This  group  has  an  approximate  area  of  20  square  miles,  a  tax- 
able valuation  of  $204,850  and  a  scholastic  enumeration  of  74  whites 
and  11  negroes.  The  Verdigris  River  on  the  east  separates  this 
territory  from  the  districts  in  Rogers  County. 

This  group  cannot  now  meet  the  requirements  for  consol- 
idation. The  rough  topography  and  poor  roads  would  make 
consolidation  inadvisable  for  these  districts  even  if  they  could 
qualify  in  other  respects. 

All  of  the  negro  children  are  enumerated  in  District  No.  24. 

A  union  graded  school  for  the  whites  can  be  organized  in  this 
section,  but  this  should  not  be  done  until  the  roads  are  improved. 

Because  of  the  difficulties  .involved  in  transporting  pupils  over 
the  hills  in  the  eastern  part  of  this  group,  is  would  hardly  be 
practical  to  organize  a  consolidated  district  from  Districts  21,  24, 
25  and  36 ;  but  it  would,  no  doubt,  be  advisable  to  detach  sections 
6,  7  and  13  from  the  eastern  side  of  District  21  and  attach  same 
to  this  group  composed  of  Districts  24  and  36.  Should  Districts 
21,  24,  25  and  36  unite  it  would  then  be  necessary  for  Districts  20 


WAGONER  COUNTY  105 

and  26  to  coiisolidate  with,  territory  in  Tulsa  County  or  remain 
one-teacher  districts. 

Considering  the  topography  of  the  county  and  all  other  el- 
ements of  the  problem,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  arrangement 
of  these  districts  as  Group  One,  composed  of  districts  20,  21,  25  and 
26,  and  Group  Two,  composed  of  Districts  24  and  36,  is  logical. 
Should  Group  One  organize  now,  pupils  in  Group  Two  ready  for 
high  school  work  could  be  transferrer  to  Group  One  for  the  present. 

EVANS  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  27.  * 

Miss  Josephine  Sprague,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  acre  school  site  is  rough,  due  to  erosion.  There  are  two 
poorly  kept  closets  without  screens  or  pits.  No  trees  grow  on  the 
site  and  there  is  no  fence  around  it.  There  is  a  good  cistern  with 
cement  cover.  No  playground  apparatus  was  on  the  grounds  the 
day  the  school  was  inspected.  Three  horses  and  vehicles  were  used 
to  transport  pupils  to  school. 
School  Building: 

The  school  house  has  two  rooms  but  only  one  teacher  is 
employed  to  teach  the  sixty-four  pupils  enrolled.  The  building 
needs  a  coat  of  paint  and  needs  to  be  made  substantial.  At  present 
one  can  stand  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and  shake  the  floor  of  the 
entire  building.  Each  room  is  improperly  lighted  by  windows 
placed  on  three  sides.  It  has  an  entrance  hall  and  two  cloakrooms. 
The  walls  and  ceiling  are  painted  blue. 
Equipment : 

The  school   has  window  shades,  poor  blackboards  placed  too 


SCHOOL  IN  DISTRICT    NO.   27. 


106  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

high,  pupils'  double  desks  improperly  arranged,  a  fair  teacher's 
desk  and  poor  chair,  one  poor  recitation  bench,  a  new  heater  with 
jacket  that  had  not  been  put  up  on  the  day  the  school  was  visited, 
a  water  cooler  that  was  out  of  order,  one  case  of  maps,  dictionary 
in  fair  condition,  ten  volumes  of  Home  and  School  Reference 
Work  and  one  New  Century  Book  of  Facts  and  sixteen  library 
books  suitable  for  intermediate  and  grammar  grade  students,  a 
bookcase  with  the  doors  off,  and  an  organ.  It  has  no  sash 
curtains,  no  chairs  for  visitors,  no  thermometer,  no  library  books 
for  primary  pupils,  no  framed  pictures,  no  flag,  no  lavatory  facil- 
ities, and  no  equipment  for  domestic  science,  manual  training  or 
agriculture. 
Organization: 

One  teacher,  thirty-five  boys,  twtenty-nine  girls,  thirty-two 
recitations,  eight  grades,  boys'  and  girls'  clubs,  and  no  high  school 
work. 

(See  Group  Three) 

ONETA,  DISTRICT  NO.    28. 
Mrs.  Mary  Orcutt,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings: 

The  level  acre  site  is  enclosed  with  a  good  woven  wire  fence. 
A  good  well  with  a  concrete  cover  is  the  source  of  the  water  supply 
for  the  school.  The  outbuildings  are  poor  but  better  ones  are 
planned  and  will  be  built  soon.  No  trees  or  shrubs  have  been 
planted  on  the  site. 
School  Building: 

The  wooden  building  has  one  classroom  in  the  two  rear  corners 
of  which  triangular  closets  have  been  built  for  cloakrooms  and  in 
another  corner  a  rectangular  closet  has  been  built  to  serve  as  a 
bookcase  and  supply  closet.  The  building  is  improperly  lighted  by 
eight  windows  arranged  four  on  each  side. 
Equipment : 

New  shades  for  the  windows,  library  books,  maps,  dictionary, 
and  flag  have  been  ordered  as  a  result  of  the  county  superinten- 
dent's plan  for  standardizing  her  schools.  The  equipment  on  hand 
consists  of  double  desks  for  the  pupils,  a  teacher's  desk  and  chair, 
recitation  benches,  and  an  old  style  heater.  The  teacher  and  board 
in  this  district  are  making  an  effort  to  bring  their  school  up  to  the 
standard  set  by  the  county. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  is  emploved  to  teach  the  sixteen  boys  and  sixteen 
girls  enrolled.  Eight  grades  are  represented.  No  high  school 
work  is  offered. 

(See  Group  Three) 


WAGONER  COUNTY  107 

NEW  STATE,  DISTRICT  NO.  29. 

Miss  Dona  Jones,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  rough  unfenced  site  contains  about  one  and  one-half  acres. 
Two  popr  closets  without  screens  or  pits  and  a  fuel  house  in  poor 
conditions  are  on  the  site.  These  outbuildings  are  unpainted.  Water 
is  secured  from  a  well  with  concrete  cover.  There  are  no  trees, 
no  shrubs,  no  walks,  and  there  is  no  playground  equipment. 
School  Building: 

The  woden  building  has  a  very  good  rock  foundation,  uncovered 
platform  in  front,  entrance,  two  cloakrooms,  and  one  large  class- 
room improperly  lighted  by  ten  windows  arranged  five   on  each 
side. 
Equipment : 

The  school  has  two  window  shades  for  the  ten  windows,  black- 
boards in  fair  condition,  teacher's  desk  and  chair  in  very  good 
condition,  three  poor  recitation  benches,  an  old  style  heater,  one 
case  of  maps  in  poor  condition,  a  good  globe,  an  agricultural  chart, 
good  bookcase,  and  twenty-six  volumes  of  reference  books  but  no 
other  library  books,  ten  framed  pictures  and  a  flag.  It  has  no 
sash  curtains,  no  chairs  for  visitors,  no  drinking  fountain  or 
cooler,  no  dictionary,  no  lavatory,  no  musical  instrument,  no 
equipment  for  teaching  manual  training  agriculture  or  domestic 
science. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  ninety-nine  pupils  enrolled, 
forty-two  boys  and  fifty-seven  girls.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
add  to  this  statement  as  very  little  effective  teaching  can  be  done 
under  such  circumstances. 

(See  Group  Three) 


SCHOOL    IN  DISTRICT   NO.    29. 


108  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

BLUE  SPRINGS,  DISTRICT  NO.  30, 
Frank  Johnston,  Teacher. 

This  school  is  located  on  a  very  rough  site  that  was  probably- 
chosen  because  the  acre  was  not  good  for  any  other  purpose.  Two 
toilets  without  screens  or  pits  and  without  roofs,  a  poor  fue*l  house 
and  an  open  well  constitute  the  only  improvements  that  are 
found  on  the  site  except  the  schoolbuilding.  Several  native  oak 
trees  are  growing  on  this  acre. 

The  one-room  wooden  school  building  needs  paint,  has  a  good 
stone  foundation,  no  entrance  hall,  no  cloakrooms,  and  no  closets 
for  lunches  or  storage  purposes.  The  room  is  lighted  by  eight  large 
windows  improperly  arranged  four  on  each  side.  There  is  not  suf- 
ficient floor  space  for  the  pupils  enrolled.  The  school  is  equipped 
with  three  window  shades  for  the  eight  windows,  double  desks,  a 
teacher's  desk  and  chair,  very  poor  recitation  benches,  a  good, 
globe,  six  volumes  of  reference  books,  and  about  twenty-five 
volumes  of  library  books,  several  of  which  can  be  used  by  the 
pupils,  the  others  being  unsuited  for  school  libraries.  This  school 
also  has  a  flag,  a  bookcase,  an  organ,  a  water  bucket  and  a  wash- 
basin. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  fifty- two  pupils  enrolled 
in  the  school.  These  pupils  are  classified  in  seven  grades.  The 
teacher  has  had  no  previous  experience.  No  high  school  work 
is  given. 

The  district  needs  a  two-room  modern  building  on  a  good  site,, 
more  complete  equipment  and  at  least  two  teachers.  The  fact  that 
three  pupils  from  this  district  are  now  attending  the  Coweta 
high  school  also  suggests  that  the  district  should  provide  high  school 
training  for  its  pupils  who  cannot  go  away  to  school.  This  can  be 
done  most  effectively  by  enlarging  the  area  and  valuation  of  the 
district. 

(See  Group  Three) 

GROUP  THREE 

Dist.  27  Dist.  28  Dist.  29     Dist.  30     Total 

Area  (sq.  miles) 9  9  9  9  36 

Enumeration  (whites)  76  71  90  102  339 

Valuation  $207,580  $130,730  $205,710  $223,196  $767,216 

General  Levy    (mills) 4  4  3.7  3 

Approved  Estimate  .*. 1,252        1,090  895  823        4,060 

Outstanding  Bonds  1,400        1,200         1,200         1,000         4,800 

In  Sinking  Fund  _ 758  456  344  554        2,112 

Number  of  Teachers  11114 

Monthly  salary  90  85  75  75  325- 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


109 


Grade  of  Certificate State 

Length,  of  Term   (months)  9 

Enrollment,  1916-17  74 

Av.  Attendance,    1916-17 40 

Enrollment  by  Grades,  December,  1917 


Primary 

First    

Second   

Third  

Fourth    

Fifth    

Sixth  

Seventh    

Eighth    

High    School  

Total  

Number  of  Grades  _.. 

Daily  Recitations  

Number  of  Horses  Driven 

to  School  by  Pupils  

Enumeration  of  Colored 

Scholastics  . 


12 

12 

10 
8 
9 
1 
0 
6 
0 
0 

64 
8 

32 


0 


First 

9 

35 
25 

4 

4 

4 

2 

5 

1 

6 

2 

4 

0 
32 

8 
33 


12 


First 
8 

98 
41 

0 
31 

5 

14 
13 
10 
15 

0 
11 

0 
99 

8 
35 

1 

0 


Third 

8 

67 
54 

10 

5 
10 

6 

9 

4 

4 

4 

0 

0 
52 

7 
28 

1 
3 


274 
160 

26 

51 
29 
30 
36 

22 

25 

12 

15 

0 

247 


6 
15 


This  group  of  districts  having  an  area  of  thirty-six  square 
miles  of  level  prairie  land  can  easily  maintain  a  splendid  consoli- 
dated school.  There  are  only  fifteen  colored  scholastics  residing 
in  these  districts ;  therefore,  there  is  practically  no  racial  division 
to  complicate  the  organization  of  a  central  school.  The  separate 
schools  are  practically  consolidated  at  this  time. 

By  refering  to  the  present  enrollment  in  these  schools,  it  will 
be  noted  that  at  least  three  of  them  should  have  two  or  more 
teachers  each  at  this  time.  These  three  or  more  teachers  would 
almost  double  the  present  cost  of  the  schools,  $4,060,  and  the  cost  of 
additional  rooms  that  would  be  needed  would  go  a  long  ways 
toward  building  a  good  central  school  in  the  district.  A  consoli- 
dated school  formed  of  this  group  would  have  large  classes  and 
would  make  it  possible  for  the  rural  boys  and  girls  to  secure  high 
school  training  at  home  equal  to  that  offered  in  the  best  high  schools 
of  eastern  Oklahoma. 

A  union  graded  school  would  not  suffice  for  these  districts 
because  the  lower  grades  would  still  be  overcrowded  in  three  of 
the  outlying  schools,  but  a  union  graded  district  would  prove 
superior  to  the  present  small  districts  that  offer  no  high  school 
opportunities  for  the  children  in  this  section. 


110  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

SUNNYSIDE,  DISTRICT  NO.  31, 
Grace  Elder,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings: 

The  level  unfenced  school  site  has  a  cement  covered  cistern, 
two  toilets  in  a  very  poor  condition  without  screens  or  pits,  a  fuel 
house,  one  piece  of  playground  apparatus,  and  no  trees. 

School  Building: 

The  wooden  school  building  has  a  combination  entrance  hall 
and  cloakroom  built  on  the  front  of  the  house  apparently  as  an 
afterthought.  The  classroom  is  improperly  lighted  by  eight 
windows  arranged  four  on  a  side. 

Equipment: 

Shades  for  several  of  the  windows,  sash  curtains,  poor  black- 
boards, double  desks  properly  arranged,  teacher's  desk  and  chair, 
an  old  style  heater  that  affords  no  ventilation,  one  case  of  maps 
in  fair  condition,  a  good  dictionary,  a  bookcase  and  about  twenty 
library  books  suitable  for  intermediate  and  grammar  grade  pupils, 
but  none  for  the  primary  grades,  a  washbasin,  and  organ,  constitute 
the  equipment.  A  grafonola  has  been  purchased  but  was  not 
received  at  the  date  of  inspection.  The  school  has  no  chairs  for 
visitors,  no  drinking  fountain  or  cooler,  no  globes  or  charts,  no 
framed  pictures,  no  flag,  and  no  equipment  for  teaching  domestic 
science,  manual  training  or  agriculture,  and  no  screened  cupboard 
for  lunches. 

Organization : 

One  teacher  has  enrolled  fourteen  boys  and  fifteen  girls. 
These  pupils  are  in  seven  grades  and  the  teacher  has  twenty-four 
recitations  on  her  daily  schedule.  No  high  school  work  is  given. 

(See   Group  Four) 

STONY  POINT,  DISTRICT  NO.  32, 

Arthur   Secrest,   Teacher. 

The  equipment  of  this  school  is  about  equal  to  that  of  the 
average  district  in  the  county.  Fourteen  pupils  were  on  the  roll 
at  the  time  the  school  was  inspected,  but  the  teacher  reported  that 
only  three  has  attended  regularly  during  the  preceding  six  weeks. 
Only  three  pupils  were  present  December  5th,  although  the 
weather  conditions  were  favorable. 

Since  the  people  in  this  district  evidently  do  not  believe  in  a 
one-teacher  school  such  as  they  have,  they  should  unite  with  other 
districts  to  form  a  strong  graded  school  where  their  children 


WAGONER  COUNTY  111 

may  secure   educational  advantages  such   as   their   parents  desire 
for  them. 

(See  Groups  Four  and  Eleven.) 

GROUP  FOUR. 

Districts  31  (Sunny side),  33  (Hidden  Valley),  34,  and  the 
North  Half  of  District  32,  (Stony  Point)... 

The  area  of  this  group  is  approximately  thirty-five  square 
miles,  the  valuation  it  about  $354,124  and  the  enumeration  of  white 
scholastics  is  162,  more  or  less.  There  are  not  to  exceed  forty-five 
colored  scholastics  in  this  group  of  districts. 

The  Verdigris  River  forms  the  eastern  boundary  of  Districts  33 
and  34,  making  it  necessary  to  include  a  larger  area  than  should 
be  consolidated  in  a  section  having  as  many  hills  and  bad  roads  as 
are  found  in  the  riparian  districts  of  Wagoner  County.  But  a 
consolidated  school  located  somewhere  near  the  center  of  this 
group  would  not  be  inaccessible.  The  center  of  population  is  west 
of  the  central  part  of  the  proposed  consolidated  district. 

Each  of  the  districts  has  a  bonded  indebtedness  at  this  time, 
and  about  one-fourth  enough  money  in  the  sinking  fund  to  redeem 
the  bonds  at  maturity. 

A  union  graded  district  would  probably  be  less  burdensome 
to  these  districts  at  this  time  than  a  consolidated  district,  as  it 
would  call  for  a  smaller  initial  expenditure  for  building  and 
would  not  entail  the  expense  of  transportation  over  bad  roads. 
After  the  valuation  increases  and  the  roads  are  improved  the 
union  graded  school  can  easily  be  converted  into  a  good  consol- 
idated school  where  all  of  the  pupils  from  the  first  grade  up  through 
the  high  school  may  be  taught  satisfactorily. 

FAIRVIEW  SCHOOL,  DISTRICT  NO.  3. 
Hazel   Best,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

This  school  site  is  not  fenced  and  has  no  trees  growing  on  it. 
There  are   two   poor  toilets   without   screens  or  pits.       Water  is 
supplied  from  a  well  with  a  concrete  cover.     There  is  no  play- 
ground apparatus  on  the  ground. 
School  Building: 

This  building  has  been  braced  to  strengthen  it.  It  is  painted, 
has  a  good  foundation,  a  covered  porch  with  cement  floor,  no 
cloakrooms  or  entrance  hall,  walls  and  ceiling  of  plaster  and 
untinted,  and  is  improperly  lighted  by  eight  large  windows 
arranged  four  on  a  side. 


112  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

Equipment: 

This  school  has  eighteen  volumes  of  reference  works  and  a 
good  dictionary  but  no  other  library  books.  It  is  furnished  with 
good  single  desks,  a  desk  and  chair  for  the  teacher,  an  old  style 
heater,  has  a  flag,  one  small  framed  picture,  an  organ,  and  an 
agricultural  chart.  The  teacher  has  covered  an  unused  desk  with 
oil  cloth  and  placed  it  in  one  corner  of  the  room  for  service  as  a 
washstand.  The  blackboards  are  good  but  placed  too  high  from 
the  floor.  There  are  no  maps,  globes,  recitation  benches,  and 
there  is  no  drinking  fountain  or  water  cooler,  no  screened  cupboard 
for  lunches,  and  no  bookcase. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  seven  boys  and  six 
girls  enrolled.  These  pupils  are  divided  into  six  grades.  The 
teacher  has  twenty-six  recitations  each  day.  High  school  work 
is  not  offered  and  three  pupils  of  this  district  are  attending  the 
high  school  in  other  districts.  Although  the  weather  was  very 
bad  on  the  day  this  school  was  inspected,  every  child  enrolled  was 
present.  Two  horses  and  one  vehicle  are  used  to  transport  the 
pupils  to  this  school. 

(See  Group  Five) 

BULL  CREEK,  DISTRICT  NO.  4, 

Edith  Biles,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings: 

The  level  acre  site  has  on  it  a  dilapidated  fuel  house  used  also 
as  a  stable,  two  poor  closets  without  screens  or  pits  and  located 
too  near  the  concrete  covered  well  from  which  water  is  secured. 
There  are  no  trees  on  this  site  and  there  is  no  playground  equip- 
ment. 
School  Building: 

The  single  classroom  is  improperly  lighted  by  eight  windows 
arranged  four  on  each  side ;  it  has  no  cloakroom  or  entrance  hall ; 
the  walls  and  ceiling  are  painted  blue. 
Equipment : 

This  school  has  an  unusually  good  library  consisting  of  about 
175  volumes,  about  75  of  which  are  not  suited  to  the  age  and 
advancement  of  the  pupils  in  the  schoool,  but  are  excellent  for  the 
older  people  in  the  community.  It  has  a  case  of  maps,  a  globe, 
window  shades  double  desks  for  the  pupils,  an  old  style  heater, 
reading  chart,  agricultural  chart,  bucket  and  basin  for  lavatory, 
an  organ,  and  a  flag.  It  has  no  drinking  fountain  or  water 
cooler,  no  framed  pictures  and  no  equipment  for  teaching  agri- 
culture, domestic  science  or  manual  training. 


WAGONER  COUNTY  113 

Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  eighteen  boys  and  eleven 
girls  enrolled.  The  pupils  are  divided  into  seven  grades,  and 
the  teacher  has  thirty  recitations  each  day.  No  high  school  worK 
is  offered  lor  the  pupils  in  this  school. 

(See  Group  Five) 

GROUP  FIVE. 

District  3,  Fail-view, 

District  4,'  Bull  Creek, 

District  5,  (North  part)  Rosebud, 

District  6,  Combite, 

District  7,  Pleasant  Valley. 

Dist.  3     Dist.  4    Dist.  6     Dist.  7     Total 

Area  9  12  9  9  39 

Enumeration    28  41  20  26  115 

Valuation  $233,021  $217,897  $140,867  $291,699  $883,484 

General    Levy  1.3  1.9  4.3  2.5 

Approved  Estimate  729  800  788  752        3,069 

Outstanding   Bonds  1,500         2,000         1,700         1,500         6,700 

In  Sinking  Fund 483         1,313  726  787         3,309 

Number   of   Teachers   11114 

Monthly  Salary  60  60  65  55  240 

Length  of  Term  (months)  8888 

Enrollment,  1916-17  22  21  25  12  80 

Av.  Attendance,    1916-17 18  15  16  10  59 

Enrollment  by  Grades,  December,  1917 : 

Primary    ! 2  4  1  3  10 

First  04127 

Second  0  8  6  2  16 

Third  2  2318 

Fourth  3  2  2  3  10 

Fifth „ 04004 

Sixth  2  3  4  2  11 

Seventh    „ 2  0  1  0'  3 

Eighth - „ 2  2  4  2  10 

High  School  00000 

Total „ 13  29  22  15  79 

Number  of  Grades 6776 

Daily  Recitations  26  30  31  27 

By  adding  the  northern  part  of  District  No.  5  to  this  group 
the  area,  enumeration  and  taxable  valuation  would  be  increased  to 
approximately  47  square  miles,  136  scholastics  and  $965,000.  The 
other  items  would  be  increased  in  about  the  same  ratio. 
The  meandering  course  of  the  Verdigris  River  which  forms  the 


114 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


western  boundary  of  this  proposed  district  makes  it  appear  more 
awkward  on  the  map  than  it  really  is  in  fact.  Very  few,  if  any,  white 
families  live  near  the  river.  With  the  exception  of  a  strip  of 
timber  land  near  the  river  the  entire  territory  is  level  upland 
prairie  having  good  dirt  roads.  A  school  localod  at  the  center 
of  Districts  3,  4,  6  and  7  would  not  be  an  unreasonable  distance 
from  the  remotest  white  family  in  the  northern  half  of  District  5. 
The  northwestern  sections  of  District  4  should  be  attached  to  a  dis- 
trict in  Rogers  County  if  there  is  a  school  conveniently  near. 

The  territory  located  in  this  tier  of  congressional  townships 
and  situated  between  Verdigris  and  Grand  Rivers  should,  under 
other  circumstances,  be  divided  into  three  consolidated  districts. 
Should  this  be  done,  however,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  middle 
district  would  have  the  benefit  of  practically  all  the  public  service 
corporation  property  and,  as  a  result,  we  would  have  one  strong 


INTERIOR  VIEW,  DISTRICT  NO.  7. 

district  and  two  weak  districts  in  that  part  of  the  county.  There- 
fore, I  have  thought  best  to  suggest  that  territory  be  organized 
into  two  districts  following  the  present  district  lines  as  nearly  as 
possible  for  convenience  in  organizing.  A  better  arrangement 
perhaps  would  be  to  detach  from  group  five  and  add  to  group  six 
a  strip  one  mile  wide,  thus  decreasing  the  area  of  group  five  to 
approximately  forty-one  square  miles  and  increasing  the  area  of 
group  six  to  approximately  forty  square  miles. 

There  are  about  sixty-three  negro  children  located  in  Districts 
4,  5  and  7. 

It    may  be  that    a    better    arrangement    would  be  to  group 

Districts  3  and  4  with  districts  in  Rogers  and  Mayes  Counties  and 
Districts  1  and  2  with  districts  in  Mayes  County,  but  such  would 
break  into  this  suggested  reorganization  of  districts  in  Wagoner 


WAGONER  COUNTY  115 

County  and  would  necessitate  a  rearrangement  of  the  groupings 
south  of  these  districts.  Other  combinations  can  and  should  be 
formed,  however,  if  the  interests  of  the  districts  require.  But 
any  proposed  arrangement  that  does  not  take  care  of  each  district 
in  the  county  will  be  faulty  to  that  extent. 

This  group  with  a  valuation  of  almost  one  million  dollars  and 
a  small  scholastic  population  in  proportion  to  its  valuation  and  area 
could  easily  maintain  a  strong  school  in  which  its  pupils  could  be 
given  training  suitable  to  their  future  needs  and  far  superior  to 
the  training  they  are  now  receiving  in  the  little  one-room  one- 
teacher  school. 


3 


SCHOOL    IX    DISTRICT    XO.     5. 

FLAT  ROCK,   District  No.  2, 
J.  E.  McElary,  Teacher. 

The  school  site  in  this  district  should  be  made  level  and 
improved  otherwise.  There  are  tAvo  poor  toilets  without  screens 
or  pits  located  about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  water  supply, 
and  a  fuel  house  in  fair  condition.  There  are  no  trees  or  shrubs 
and  there  is  no  playground  equipment  on  the  site. 

The  school  house  is  improperly  lighted  with  six  windows  ar- 
ranged three  on  each  side.  There  are  two  large  cloakrooms  and 
a  nice  entrance  hall,  making  this  one  of  the  most  modern  buildings 
in  the  rural  districts  of  Wagoner  County. 

The  school  has  window  shades,  good  blackboards,  double  desks, 
a  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  two  good  recitation  benches,  an  old 
style  heater,  globe,  ten  volumes  of  reference  books,  a  dictionary, 
reading  chart,  agricultural  chart,  washbasin,  flag  and  organ.  It 
has  no  sash  curtains,  no  chairs  for  visitors,  no  drinking  fountain, 


116  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

no  bookcase,  and  no  equipment  for  teaching  agriculture,  domestic 
science  or  manual  training. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  twelve  boys  and  fifteen 
girls  enrolled.  These  pupils  are  divided  into  eight  grades,  and 
the  school  day  is  divided  into  twenty-nine  recitation  periods.  No 
high  school  work  is  provided. 

(See  Group  Six) 


GODDARD  SCHOOL,  District  No.  8, 
Charles  Comstock,  Teacher. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  school  site  includes  one  acre  that  is  enclosed  by  a  fence. 
Two  very  poor  toilets  without  screens,  pits,  or  roofs  and  one  fuel 
house  in  poor  condition  are  on  this  site.  Water  is  obtained  from 
a  well  with  stone  cover.  There  are  no  trees  and  110  playground 
equipment  is  on  the  schoolground. 

School  Building: 

The  one-room  schoolbuilding  was  painted  on  the  outside  several 
years  ago.  It  has  no  entrance  hall  or  cloakrooms.  A  small 
triangular  closet  has  been  built  in  one  corner  of  the  room  and  is 
used  for  storage  purposes.  The  building  is  lighted  by  ten  windows, 
four  on  each  side  and  two  on  the  rear  end.  The  pupils  face  the 
doors.  When  the  doors  are  kept  open  during  the  warm  weather, 
it  is  impossible  to  arrange  the  seats  so  the  children  will  not  face 
the  light.  This  condition  should  be  remedied  by  remodeling  the 
building. 

Equipment :  » 

There  are  eight  window  shades  for  the  ten  windows,  no  sash 
curtains,  double  desks  for  pupils,  good  teacher's  desk  and  chair, 
no  chairs  for  visitors,  a  very  poor  recitation  bench,  blackboards  in 
fair  condition,  one  case  of  maps,  a  good  globe,  a  good  dictionary 
and  seven  volumes  of  reference  books,  but  no  library  books 
suitable  for  pupils  enrolled  in  the  school,  four  large  framed  pictures, 
a  flag,  washbasin  and  organ. 

Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  nine  boys  and  four  girls 
enrolled.  The  pupils  are  divided  into  seven  grades  and  the  school 
day  is  divided  into  27  recitation  periods.  No  high  school  work 
is  given. 

(See  Group  Six) 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


117 


GROUP  SIX. 

Districts  1,  2,  8  and  9. 

These  districts  situated  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Wagoner 
County  are  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Grand  River.  Districts  1 
and  9  are  irregular  in  outline  and  rough  in  topography.  Districts 
2  and  8  are  regular  in  outline  and  are  level. 

The  total  valuation  of  the  group,  as  outlined,  is  $803,417  the  area 
is  approximately  34  spuare  miles,  and  the  white  scholastic  popula- 
tion is  213.  A  strip  one  mile  wide  detached  from  Group  Five  and 
attached  to  this  group  would  equalize  the  area  of  these  two  pro- 
posed districts  and  would  increase  the  valuation  and  school  popula- 
tion of  this  group  slightly.  Should  Districts  1  and  2  combine  with 
the  districts  lying  north  in  Mayes  County,  District  9  could  enrer 
the  combination  of  districts  lying  south.  Group  Seven  and  District 
fc  could  be  divided  between  Groups  Seven  and  Eight  or  enter  Group 
Eight  as  a  whole. 

On  account  of  the  hills  and  broken  nature  of  the  land  surface 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Group  6,  it  would  probably  be  best  for  this 
group  to  organize  a  union  graded  district  at  this  time.  Later 
as  the  roads  are  improved  this  union  graded  district  can  be 
changed  to  a  consolidated  district  in  whicn  all  pupils  in  the 
district  will  have  the  benefit  of  a  graded  school.  However,  consoli- 
dation would  not  be  impracticable  for  this  group  at  this  time,  but  the 
transportation  would  probably  be  rather  expensive  in  the  beginning. 

Each  district  has"  a  bonded  indebtedness  and  each  has  in  its 
sinking  fund  enough  money  to  pay  off  approximately  one-half  of 
the  indebtedness. 

Forty-seven  negro  children  reside  in  the  districts  included  in 
this  group. 


SCHOOL  BUILDING  IN  DISTRICT  NO.   15. 


118  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

GROUP  SEVEN. 

Districts  13,  14  and  15. 

These  districts  have  an  aggregate  taxable  valuation  of  $387,102, 
a  scholastic  population  of  176  and  an  area  of  approximately  23 
square  miles.  By  detaching  two  square  miles  from  the  east  end 
of  District  16  and  attaching  it  to  this  group  the  valuation  and 
population  will  be  increased  and  the  area  will  be  made  large 
enough  to  enable  the  group  to  consolidate. 

No  separate  schools  for  negroes  are  necessary  in  those  districts 
there  being  only  four  negro  children  of  school  age  residing  in  the 
entire  territory. 

District  15  has  a  well  built  but  poorly  planned  brick  school- 
building,  consisting  of  one  room  with  windows  arranged  on  all  four 
sides.  There  are  no  cloakrooms  or  closets  in  this  building. 

The  area  of  this  group  as  outlined  is  large  enough  for  a  good 
consolidated  district  in  this  section  of  the  county  where  there  are 
hills  and  poor  roads.  A  union  graded  school  would  be  a  decided 
improvement  over  present  conditions,  but  a  consolidated  school 
is  recommended  for  this  group  of  districts. 

GROUP  EIGHT. 

District  19  and  three-fourths  of  No.  16. 

District  19,  the  city  of  Wagoner,  is  an  independent  district. 
The  schoolhouse  in  District  16  situated  south  of  Wagoner  was 
burned  recently.  These  two  districts  belonging  in  the  same  group 
as  District  16  cannot  provide  high  school  facilities  equal  to  those 
provided  for  the  ehilldren  in  the  town  school.  The  schoohouse 
being  rebuilt  in  District  16  should  ultimately  become  an  outlying 
school  in  the  Wagoner  district  or  the  independent  district  No.  19 
should  ultimately  absorb  District  16  and  transport  the  pupils  to  the 
graded  schools  in  town  under  that  provision  of  the  law  which 
allows  independent  districts  to  furnish  transportation. 

Under  the  present  arrangement,  those  pupils  residing  in  District 
16  must  be  transferred  to  Wagoner  after  they  reach  the  high  school 
grades. 

Good  work  was  being  done  in  the  temporary  school  quarters 
of  District  16.  As  the  board  was  planning  a  substantial  new 
building,  it  is  very  probable  that  a  number  of  years  will  elapse 
before  the  people  in  that  district  will  consent  to  attaching  them- 
selves to  the  town  district  for  school  purposes. 

The  Wagoner  district  has  an  assessed  valuation  of  $2,755.245 
upon  which  a  tax  levy  of  eight  mills  has  been  made  this  year  for 
general  purposes  and  a  levy  of  two  mills  for  the  sinking  fund. 
The  approved  estimate  of  expenses  for  the  current  year  is  $22,600. 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


119 


Forty-three  pupils  have  been  transferred  to  this  district  from 
adjoining  districts  in  Wagoner  County  and  several  pupils  have  been 
transferred  from  the  Wagoner  district  to  the  high  school  at  Mus- 
kogee.  The  high  school  enrollment  during  December  was  138 
The  transferred  pupils  are  charged  at  the  rate  of  $38.00  per  year  of 
nine  months  for  high  school  tuition  and  $18.95  per  year  in  the 
grades. 

Only  four  rural  schools  in  the  county  having  white  majorities 
levy  as  high  a  rate  of  tax  as  the  Wagoner  district  levies.  If  the 
people  in  the  rural  communities  would  consent  to  pay  as  high  a 


WAGONER  CITY    SCHOOL. 


rate  as  the  people  of  Wagoner  pay  willingly,  each  community  or 
group  of  districts  in  the  county  could  maintain  its  own  high  school 
equal  to  the  best  town  high  school  in  the  county. 

Under  a  county  unit  system  of  school  administration  Wagoner 
County  rural  property  would  all  be  taxed  at  the  same  rate  and 
equal  educational  facilities  would  be  provided  for  the  children  in 
all  districts.  Under  such  a  plan  a  good  high  school  could  be  pro- 
vided for  each  community. 


120 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


GROUP  NINE. 


Dist. 


11        Dist.  12        Dist.  18        Total 

Area   (square  miles)   9                    6                  12                  27 

Enumeration    56                  18                  74                148 

Valuation  $139,378.00  $220,583.00  $168,776.00  $528,737.00 

General   Levy  (mills)    .....  5                 3.1                 1.8 

Approved    Estimate  900.00           730.00           872.00        2,502.00 

Outstanding   Bonds   1,600.00        1,500.00        2,000.00        5,100.00 

In   Sinking  Fund  600.00        1,054.00           764.00        2,418.00 

Number  of  Teachers 1113 

Monthly  Salary  75.00             65.00             65.00           205.00 

Grade  of  Certificate  1st              2nd                2nd 

Length  of  Term   (months)  888 

Enrollment,  1916-17   40                  27                  47                114 

Av.  Attendance,  1916-17  25                    9                  21                  55 
Enrollment  by  Grades,  December,  1917: 

Primary  5                    9                    0                  14 

First  2                    3                  14                  19 

Second  8                   4                   2                 14 

Third    5                    4                    4                  13 

Fourth  9                    7                  10                  26 

Fifth  2327 

Sixth  0112 

Seventh 4                    0                  12                  16 

Eighth 1124 

High   School  0000 

Total  36                  32                  47                115 

Number  of  Grades  778 

Daily    Recitations  32                  30                  28 

Enumeration  of  Colored 

Scholastics    12                    0                  10 

These  districts  are  located  near  Wagoner  and  a  number  of 
the  pupils  enter  the  Wagoner  high  school  after  they  complete  the 
common  school  course  in  the  home  district.  Should  these  districts 
consolidate  the  several  classes  would  be  large  enough  to  insure 
rivalry  and  competition  among  the  pupils  enrolled.  The  work  could 
be  divided  between  the  three  teachers  now  employed,  giving  one 
teacher  the  primary,  first  and  second  grades,  another  the  third, 
fourth  and  fifth,  and  the  other  the  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  grades. 
Under  this  arrangement,  the  primary  teacher  could  devote  two 
hours  to  the  pupils  in  the  primary  grades  as  compared  with  the 
half  hour  devoted  to  them  according  to  the  daily  schedules  at  tne 
present.  In  other  words,  the  pupils  in  these  lower  grades  would  re- 
ceive about  four  times  as  much  attention  as  it  is  possible  to  give  them 
in  the  one-teacher  school.  By  making  the  proper  combinations  of 


22 


WAGONER  COUNTY  121 


SCHOOL  IN    DISTRICT  NO.    18. 

classes,  pupils  in  the  other  grades  would  receive  from  three  to  four 
times  as  much  time  and  attention  as  they  receive  under  present  con- 
ditions. It  is  costing  $2,502  to  operate  these  one-room  schools 
this  year.  It  would  not  cost  twice  as  much  to  provide  a  good 
graded  school  for  these  common  school  pupils.  If  the  present 
schools  are  worth  what  they  are  costing,  it  would  seem  that  a  good 
graded  school  offering  from  three  to  four  times  the  educational 
opportunity  now  provided  would  be  a  rare  bargain  even  if  the 
cost  should  double.  By  adding  the  high  school  work,  the  cost  will 
be  increased  proportionately.  This  group  of  districts  can  main- 
tain a  good  consolidated  school  on  a  lower  millage  tax  than  that 
levied  in  the  Wagoner  district. 

Because  of  the  level  country  and  good  roads  in  this  section 
of  the  county,  transportation  of  pupils  would  prove  neither 
difficult  nor  expensive. 


CLARKSVILLE  District  No.  53  B. 

Grounds  and  Outbuildings : 

The  sloping  school  ground  is  fenced  and  has  on  it  two  toilets, 
but  no  fuel  house  or  trees.  The  toilets  are  too  far  from  the 
building.  The  playground  has  on  it  teeter-totters  and  basket  ball 
goals. 

School  Building: 

This  building  differs  from  others  in  the  county  to  the 
extent  that  one  end  of  the  covered  front  porch  has  been  converted 
into  a  cloakroom  which  is  large  and  convenient.  The  classroom 


122 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


is  improperly  lighted  by  six  windows  arranged  three  on  each  side. 
Equipment: 

The  equipment  consists  of  double  desks  for  pupils,  teacher  V 
desk  and  chair,  window  shades,  an  old  style  heater,  agricultural 
i chart,  organ,  one  case  of  maps,  a  good  globe,  a  very  poor  diction- 
ary, about  thirty  volumes  of  library  books  too  advanced  for 
the  pupils  enrolled  in  the  school,  and  a  bookcase.  There  are  no 
framed  pictures,  no  drinking  fountain,  no  screened  cupboard  for 
children's  lunches,  no  curtains,  and  no  equipment  for  teaching 
agriculture,  domestic  science,  or  manual  training. 
Organization : 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  thirty-seven  pupils 
enrolled.  There  are  eight  grades  and  thirty-three  daily 
recitations.  No  high  school  work  is  offered  in  this  district. 
The  district  has  a  small  area  and  low  valuation  but  is  rich  in  the 
quality  and  quantity  of  children.  It  should  consolidate  and 
offer  high  school  advantages  to  its  pupils. 

GROUP  TEN. 

Districts  51,  52,  53B,  56  and  62,  having  a  total  area  of 
approximately  44  square  miles,  form  the  basis  of  this  group. 
The  aggreate  valuation  of  these  districts  is  $1,073,078.  The 
enumeration  of  white  scholastics  is  316.  There  are  213  colored 
children  in  this  territory.  The  nine  white  children  enumerated 


SCHOOL  AT    PORTER. 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


123 


in  district  57  should  be  transferred  to  this  consolidated  district 
when  it  is  formed  and  the  territory  now  included  in  district  57 
should  later  be  absorbed  as  conditions  change  because  that  district 
belongs  in  this  group  by  reason  of  location. 

This  group  is  laid  off  around  the  little  town  of  Porter  as 
a  center.  This  little  town  is  now  maintaining  an  excellent  school 
for  the  children  living  in  District  52.  As  a  result,  children 
living  in  the  other  districts  are  seeking  transfers  to  this  district. 
If  District  52  (Porter)  can  maintain  such  a  good  graded  school 
for  its  children  on  its  valuation  of  $510,359,  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  this  entire  group  could  maintain  a  much  better 
school  on  its  large  valuation. 

The  roads  in  this  section  are  good  and  transportation  could 
easily  be  arranged.  While  the  group  appears  large  on  the  map, 
I  was  told  that  no  child  would  be  farther  than  six  miles  from  the 
school  at  Porter.  The  only  difficulty  here  is  due  to  the  racial  divi- 
sion of  the  population,  making  it  necessary  to  maintain  majority  and 
minority  schools. 

GROUP  ELEVEN. 

Ooweta,  District  No.  J.7,  is  the  center  of  this  group.  A 
srood  graded  school  is  now  maintained  by  District  17,  and  the 
high  school  work  there  attracts  pupils  from  the  surrounding 
districts.  All  of  Districts  17,  41,  42  and  63  are  included  in  this 


SCHOOL    AT  COWETA. 


124 


SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 


group,  also  the  south  half  of  District  32  and  a  one  mile  strip 
from  the  east  end  of  Districts  38  and  39.  This  group  has  an  area 
of  approximately  43  square  miles  and  a  valuation  of  $1,250,000. 

Should  these  districts  combine,  the  consolidated  district  would 
be  able  to  provide  a  stronger  school  than  District  17  can  provide 
alone.  Inasmuch  as  the  school  now  draws  largely  from  the 
adjacent  districts,  the  people  in  these  districts  should  take  an 
interest  in  developing  at  Coweta  a  school  sufficiently  strong  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  all  the  children  in  this  group  of 
districts.  The  people  in  the  small  district  "with  a  limited 
valuation,  such  as  the  Coweta  district,  cannot  by  themselves 
provide  a  school  of  such  strength  and  character  as  their  own 
children  and  the  children  of  adjoining  districts  need,  however 
hard  they  may  try  to  do  so. 

Transportation  in  this  section  would  be  entirtly  practical 
and  would  not  entail  unreasonable  expense. 

GROUP  TWELVE. 

By  refering  to  the  map  it  will  be  observed  that  this  group 
of  districts  does  not  have  enough  area  to  organize  as  a  consolidated 
district.  A  union  graded  school  could^e  organized  here,  however, 
or  these  districts  could  consolidate  with  one  or  more  districts  in 
Tulsa  County.  Consolidation  should  not  be  attempted  by  this 
group  until  the  roads  are  improved. 

ROTHHAMMER,  District  No.  43, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hamiltion,  Teachers. 

The  school  site  has  been  improved  by  building  on  it  two  toilets 
with  board  screens  but  no  pits,  a  cistern  and  a  two-room  school- 


ROTHHAMMER    SCHOOL,   DISTRICT    NO.   43. 


WAGONER  COUNTY 


125 


house.  The  site  is  not  enclosed  by  a  fence  and  no  trees  have 
been  planted  on  it.  Pecan  trees  would  probably  thrive  if  planted 
on  this  site.  Teeter-totter  boards  and  basket  ball  goals  constitute 
the  playground  equipment.  A  new  room  has  just  been  added  to 
this  building.  The  original  building  is  improperly  lighted  by 
windows  on  both  sides  and  both  ends.  This  building  was 
evidently  planned  for  a  church  instead  of  for  use  as  a  schoolhouse. 
The  room  recently  added  is  improperly  lighted  by  windows 
arranged  on  two  sides.  It  is  unfortunate  that  at  least  this  room 
was  not  made  modern.  There  are  cloakrooms  in  the  large  room 
but  there  is  none  in  the  new  room. 

The  equipment  consists  of  good  single  desks  for  pupils,  one 
case  of  maps,  a  dictionary  in  fair  condition,  a  flag,  a  washpan,  an 
old  style  heater,  two  poor  recitation  benches,  two  chairs  for 
teachers,  two  old  style  heaters  without  jackets,  ten  volumes  of 
reference  books  and  three  library  books. 

Two  teachers  are  employed  to  teach  the  63  pupils  enrolled 
in  the  school.  No  high  school  work  is  given.  The  high  school 
at  Haskell  is  four  miles  distant  from  this  school. 

A  rig  has  been  placed  near  the  line  of  the  school  site  and 
a  well  will  be  drilled  for  oil. 

(See  Group  Thirteen) 

DISTRICT  NO.  44. 

This  district  maintains  three  one-room  schools,  Gibson,  Libertv 
and  Stone  Bluff.  All  of  these  schoolhouses1  are  on  unenclosed 
and  unimproved  sites.  The  Gibson  school  is  of  the  conventional 
type,  improperly  lighted  by  eight  windows  arranged  four  on  each 
side.  It  has  two  good  cloakrooms  and  is  by  far  the  best  school- 


TEMPORARY  SCHOOL  AT  STONE  BLUFF. 


126  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

building  in  the  district.  Thirty  pupils  classified  in  seven  grades 
are  enrolled  in  this  school.  The  equipment  consists  of  double 
desks,  an  old  style  heater  without  jacket,  window  shades,  black- 
boards in  fair  condition,  a  teacher's  desk  and  chair,  water  cooler, 
one  case  of  maps,  a  good  globe,  a  good  dictionary,  a  flag,  wash- 
basin, ten  volumes  of  reference  works  and  eight  Geographical 
readers.  The  Liberty  school  is  in  a  temporary  building  located  in 
the  little  oil  town,  Stone  Bluff.  This  is  a  box-car  type  of  building 
such  as  are  found  in  mining  centers  and  must  be  replaced  at  an 
early  date  by  a  better  and  larger  building.  Fifty-eight  pupils 
are  enrolled  in  this  school.  The  Stone  Bluff  school  is  located 
in  the  old  town  of  Stone  Bluff  about  one  and  one-half  miles  from 
the  Liberty  School.  This  is  a  very  poor  building  without 
equipment  and  with  an  enrollment  of  only  twenty-two  pupils  and 
an  average  attendance  of  perhaps  less  than  ten. 

No  high  school  work  is  offered  in  any  of  these  schools. 
(See  Group  Thirteen.) 

GROUP  THRITEEN. 

Districts  43  and  44  belong  in  the  same  group.  Conditions  in 
the  future  may  be  such  that  these  districts  can  consolidate,  but 
the  roads  are  now  too  poor  for  the  people  to  assume  the  obligation 
of  hauling  children  to  a  central  school.  Two  teachers  are  employed 
in  the  two-room  school  now  maintained  by  District  No.  43.  An- 
other teacher  in  this  school  would  make  it  possible  to  give  one  or 
two  years  of  high  school  work  there. 

District  44  has  three  one-room,  one-teacher  s-'hools.  One  of 
the  buildings  is  in  fair  condition  and  the  other  two  are  unfit  for 
school  purposes,  so  that  it  will  be  necessary  for  this  district 
to  provide  new  buildings  soon.  It  would  be  best  for  the  board  to 
consolidate  these  three  schools,  locating  a  three  or  four  room 
building  near  the  center  of  population  in  the  district,  and  employ 
three  or  four  teachers  to  provide  a  well  graded  srhool  for  the 
children.  One  of  the  school-houses  now  used  by  the  district  could 
be  converted  into  an  excellent  teacherage.  In-as-much  as  oil  Is 
found  in  this  district,  the  valuation  \viH  continue  to  increase  and 
prove  sufficient  to  support  a  good  school.  Later,  after  the  roads 
are  improved  and  the  country  is  settled  up,  this  central  school 
could  become  the  union  graded  school  for  Districts  43  and  44. 

HAYES  CHAPEL,  District  61, 
Mary  Henderson,  Teacher. 

This  school  is  situated  on  an  unenclosed  site  of  one  acre. 
There  are  two  new  toilets  without  screens  or  pits  and  a  new  coal 


WAGONER  COUNTY  127 

house  on  the  site.  One  of  the  toilets  should  be  moved  as  it  is  too 
near  the  well  from  which  the  pupils  are  supplied  with  water.  The 
school  site  should  also  be  fenced  and  trees  planted.  It  is  very 
probable  that  pecan  trees  or  other  nut  bearing  trees  would  thrive 
on  this  low  site.  An  attempt  should  be  made  to  grow  such  trees 
here. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  the  school  board  in  this  district  has 
spent  so  much  money  building  a  school-house  that  is  not  modern. 
The  cloakrooms  are  too  small  and  the  building  is  not  properly 
lighted.  So  much  has  been  learned  in  regard  to  school  architecture, 
the  effect  of  cross  lights  on  the  eyes,  the  necessity  for  ventilated 
schools,  the  necessity  of  pure  water,  and  the  need  of  having  the 
lunches  protected  from  flies,  that  a  school  board  should  not  build 
a  school-house  until  assured  that  it  is  planned  properly  and  will 
conserve  the  health  of  the  pupils.  A  building  embodying  all 
the  features  of  a  modern  one-room  school  could  have  been  erected 
in  the  district  at  a  cost  not  in  excess  of  the  cost  of  the  new 
building  that  was  erected  in  this  district  last  summer. 

This  district  has  no  window  shades,  curtains,  water  cooler  or 
fountain,  charts,  flag,  musical  instrument,  or  playground  equipment. 
The  library  contains  about  seventy-five  volumes  of  good  literature 
too  advanced  for  the  pupils  enrolled  and  about  twenty-five  suitable 
volumes  selected  by  the  teacher.  These  twenty-five  volumes  have 
been  read  by  the  pupils. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  thirty-seven  pupils. 
These  pupils  are  divided  into  seven  grades  and  the  teacher  has 
twenty-six  recitations  daily. 

SPRING  HILL,   District   59. 

The  school  for  white  children  in  this  district  is  the  separate 
school  and  as  such  is  maintained  by  the  county.  The  school- 
house  is  built  and  equipped  about  as  the  average  school  in  the 
county.  A  fuel  house  should  be  provided  as  a  matter  of  economy 
as  well  as  of  convenience.  The  county  health  officer  should  be 
required  to  inspect  the  separate  schools  and  make  such  recom- 
mendations as  are  necessary  to  place  the  toilets  and  premises  in  a 
sanitary  condition. 

The  equipment  for  the  separate  school  should  be  bought  by  the 
county  next  year,  the  county  superintendent  making  the  purchase. 
If  possible,  the  separate  school  should  be  furnished  better  than  it  is. 

GROUPS  FOURTEEN,  FIFTEEN  AND  SIXTEEN. 

By  refering  to  the  map  it  will  be  observed  that  these  groups 
are  located  in  the  southern  part  of  Wagoner  County.  With  the 
exception  of  District  No.  61  these  districts  have  colored  majority 


128  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

schools.  The  land  is  generally  level  in  this  part  of  the  county  and 
the  valuation  is  sufficient  to  support  good  consolidated  schools,  but 
the  roads  are  not  yet  improved  to  that  state  of  condition  where  trans- 
portation  would  be  practical,  with  the  possible  exception  of  the 
roads  in  Group  Sixteen. 

Several  of  these  districts  have  no  white  children  enumerated. 

NORTH  MUSKOGEE,  District  No.  49. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  E.  Abney,  Teachers. 

This  brick  school-house  is  located  on  a  site  of  one  acre  which 
is  not  fenced  although  located  in  a  large  pasture.  The  cattle 
in  the  pasture  find  the  schoolbuilding  very  convenient  as  a  wind- 
break. 

An  open  well  on  the  ground  should  not  be  used  as  a  source 
of  water  for  the  school.  Water  is  carried  from  a  distance  in  a 


TWO    ROOM    SCHOOL    BUILDING     AT     NORTH    MUSKOGEE 

bucket  and  served  to  the  pupils  in  a  common  drinking  cup.  There 
are  two  poorly  kept  unpainted  toilets  without  screens  or  pits, 
but  no  place  to  store  the  fuel.  On  December  4th,  the  day  the  school 
was  inspected,  a  large  pile  of  coal  was  on  the  schoolground.  No 
trees  have  been  planted  on  the  schoolground  and  none  should 
be  planted  there  until  a  good  substantial  fence  is  provided.  The 
playground  equipment  consists  of  a  giant  stride,  swings,  and 
basket  ball  goals  all  in  a  bad  state  of  repair. 

The  school  building  is  of  brick  and  has  an  entrance  hall  and 
two  classrooms  but  no  cloakrooms.  The  walls  and  ceilings  are  green 
and  unattractive.  The  primary  room  is  improperly  lighted  by  win- 
dows on  three  sides  and  the  other  room  is  improperly  and  insuffi- 
ciently lighted  by  four  windows  arranged  two  on  a  side. 


R  COUNTY  129 


The  equipment  consists  of  window  shades,  no  curtains,  black- 
boards in  fair  condition,  two  very  good  teacher's  desks  and  chairs, 
two  chairs  for  visitors,  one  case  of  maps,  a  basin  for  lavatory 
purposes,  a  large  flag,  a  piano,  eight  volumes  of  a  History  of  the 
World  and  twenty-five  volumes  of  "Standard  Encyclopedia", 
a  reading  chart,  a  dictionary  in  fair  condition,  poorly  arranged 
double  desks  for  pupils,  two  old  style  unjacketed  stoves,  and 
recital  ion  benches  in  fair  condition.  There  are  no  sash  curtains, 
no  drinking  fountains  or  coolers,  no  framed  pictures,  no  ther- 
mometers, no  globes  and  no  library  books  except  the  refrence 
books  and  dictionary.  There  is  no  bookcase,  no  equipment  for 
teaching  agriculture,  manual  training  or  domestic  science,  and  no 
screened  cupboard  for  lunch  baskets. 

The    enrollment    consists    of  twenty-three    boys    and    thirty 

5.  The  teachers  have  divided  the  work  equitably  so  that  each 
child  secures  the  maximum  of  time  and  attention  possible  under 
the  circumstances. 

The  topography  of  the  district  is  rolling  prairie,  the  roads 
and  bridges  are  in  fair  condition  and  are  being  improved  gradually. 
Xo  satisfactory  high  school  work  can  be  done  in  this  and  adjoining 
districts  under  the  present  plan  of  organization.  Since  it  is  situated 
eight  miles  from  the  Wagoner  high  school  on  the  north  and 

;t  miles  from  the  Muskogee  high  school  011  the  south,  the  people 
.should  combine  with  the  people  in  adjoining  districts  to  maintain 
a  good  high  school  of  their  own  for  their  own  children. 

GIBSOX    STATION,    District  67, 
Lullian    Shinn,    Teacher. 

The   white  school   in  this  district   is  the   minority   school  and 

Mich  is  maintained  by  the  county.       The  site  consisting  of  one 

•e   is  fenced  with  a  plank  fence.     Water  is  supplied  from   an 

open  well  on  the  school  ground  located  not  more  than  one  hundred 

feet  from  one  of  the  two  poor  outdoor  toilets.     A  fuel  house  in  poor 

condition    is   located    on    the   site.        The     outbuildings    are   not 

painted.       Xo  trees   are   on  the   site  and  there   is  no   playground 

apparatus. 

The  school  building  was  once  painted  a  dull  brown  on  the 
outside  and  a  dark  red  color  on  the  inside.  It  has  a  covered  porch. 
A  combined  cloakroom  and  storage  room  has  been  built  in  one 
corner  of  the  room.  The  classroom  is  improperly  lighted  by 
six  windows  arranged  three  on  a  side.  The  building  rests  on  stone 
pillars. 

The  equipment  consists  of  green  window  shades,  sash  curtains, 
blackboards  in  fair  condition  but  placed  too  high  from  the  floor, 
pupils'  double  desks  poorly  nrran^ed,  a  teacher's  desk  and  chair  in 


130  SCHOOL  SURVEY  SUGGESTION 

good  condition,  one  chair  for  visitors,  several  poor  recitation 
benches,  an  old  style  heater,  one  case  of  maps,  a  broken  globe,  a 
reading  chart,  an  agricultural  chart,  seven  volumes  of  Teachers' 
and  Pupils'  Reference  work,  ten  volumes  of  Home  and  School  Ref- 
erence Work,  an  organ,  one  framed  picture,  a  washbasin,  a  water 
bucket,  and  one  section  of  bookcase.  There  is  no  dictionary,  no 
water  cooler  or  fountain,  although  I  was  told  that  a  fountain  was 
ordered  some  time  ago  and  would  be  installed  soon,  no  library 
books  that  the  children  can  use,  and  no  equipment  for  teaching 
manual  training,  domestic  science,  or  agriculture. 

One  teacher  is  employed  to  teach  the  seven  boys  and  four 
girls  enrolled  in  the  school.  The  pupils  are  divided  into  five 
grades  and  the  teacher  has  twenty-four  recitation  periods  per 
day.  No  high  school  work  is  provided  for  the  children  in  this 
district. 

GROUP  SEVENTEEN. 

Districts  23,  45,  49,  50,  66,  67  and  70. 

This  group  has  a  large  area  but  no  child  in  the  district  would 
be  located  farther  than  seven  miles  from  a  central  school  at  North 
Muskogee.  This  part  of  Wagoner  County  is  level  and  the  roads 
are  very  good,  so  the  longest  distance  any  child  would  be  forced 
to  ride  to  school  would  not  be  too  great. 

Although  district  66  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Verdigris 
River,  pupils  from  that  district  can  easily  cross  the  bridge  at  North 
Mukogee  every  day  during  the  average  school  year. 

While  a  consolidated  school  would  be  better  for  this  district 
and  would  prove  entirely  successful,  no  doubt,  a  union  graded 
high  school  would  be  much  better  than  the  present  system.  This 
group  is  located  about  half  way  between  the  city  of  Wagoner  on 
the  north  and  the  city  of  Muskogee  on  the  south.  There  are 
good  high  schools  in  these  towns.  The  districts  in  Group  Seventeen 
could  maintain  as  good  high  school  for  the  country  children  as  the 
town  districts  maintain  for  the  town  children. 

I  suggest  that  the  people  in  these  districts  consider  both 
the  union  graded  and  the  consolidated  type  of  district  and  select 
one  or  the  other  in  order  that  their  children  may  not  be  handicap- 
ped later  by  lack  of  education. 


YC  03166 


961 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


